High Post Greenkeepers Blog

Ecology Update:

12/9/2016

This season our bird nest box scheme was a success, with half of our boxes occupied with either blue or great tits. This winter we aim to construct more boxes of different styles to attract and record a wider range of bird species including barn owls. I call upon all members who have an interest in birds or woodwork that would be willing to build and donate us nest boxes for our scheme, it would be a great help for preserving the wildlife on our beautiful site.

We have recorded a wide range of wild flower species this year including our newly seeded areas although the best is yet to come, with wild flower plots often taking over 18 months to establish. We are in talks with local farming contractors regarding cutting some of the long wild rough areas starting with the academy as a trial. By cutting and collecting the long rough the nutrients are removed that would normally return to the ground which in turn favours the finer grass species and wild flowers, making the rough more playable, visually appealing and ecologically sustainable.

 

This winter we will continue with our scrub clearance when weather allows, restoring areas to meadow species rich grassland and managed woodland. I call upon all members that are interested in donating any wild flowers to our cause, especially bluebells to plant in our cleared woodland areas.

Many of you may have seen small logs with holes drilled into them dotted around the course, these are bee hotels created for the solitary bee species to use to reproduce. I have also utilised our dry stone walls by inserting dry hog weed stems in them for the bees to use as nest sites. Many of our native bee species are in decline, so small steps like this aid their vulnerable population. Harvest mice are a species in decline due to habitat loss so this year we have also erected harvest mice nesting pods made from old tennis balls, all records will be forwarded on to the STRI.