for numerous environmental initiatives,
UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER SPORTS GROUNDS
details of which can be obtained from
STRI’s Ecology Environment Unit.
Water management T
he Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports
Grounds at the University of West-
minster consists of a few natural
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is turf, rugby and football pitches, tennis
the single most significant piece of water courts and a synthetic five-a-side pitch.
legislation to affect land managers in A short-term ecological improvement
the past 30 years. In contrast to previous programme was drawn up by the STRI,
water quality-focused legislation, the which included changing the routine
WFD will give more consideration to the management of many areas, so staff time
ecological status of fresh water. Bro- could be reallocated to more core activi-
ken down into distinct river basins, the ties during the summer months.
WFD’s effect on individual managers Funding via the London Tree and
will vary from region to region – de- Woodland Grant Scheme, for the intro-
pending on the water problems in each duction of 1km of native hedgerow, was
area. However, common themes across successfully acquired. Old, rusty fences
facilities in the UK will include the appro- have now been replaced with a diverse
priate sourcing and efficient application hedgerow that is creating wildlife habi-
of irrigation water, the storage of pes- tats and developing a more secure and
ticides and fertilizers and the cleansing pleasant setting for visitors.
of waste water following machinery Other projects implemented within
wash down. There are examples of best the programme include the development
practice advice freely available at www. of wildflower areas and an allotment
nroso.npct.org.uk and www.stri.co.uk to grow organic fruit and vegetables.
Projects in the pipeline include a water
Waste management capture and storage/re-use system.
A change in attitude has altered the
way in which sport facility managers
deal with the waste arising from rou- composting system is not rocket
ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST
tine maintenance over the last 20 or 30 science, but it does require a little
years. Prior to that time, most managers consultation that will bring dividends
would collect green waste and compost in the long run. Dr David Lawson is a
it on site, producing a usable material leading expert in composting and turf T
he wash-down of maintenance
machinery is a problem at every
golf club or sports facility. This
thereafter. In recent times, with readily management at the STRI and would issue is particularly exacerbated on
available cheap fertilisers and no recom- be happy to advise. an open links site such as St Andrews
pense for the indiscriminate disposal of Golf Club in Scotland.
green waste, these practices have been The future? Although not loaded heavily with
all but forgotten. However, green waste Apparently, the Chinese word for pollutants, this water often con-
management systems are now begin- problem is the same word they use for tains moderate levels of herbicides,
ning to make a comeback. opportunity. This has never been truer fertilisers and other pesticides, which
The cost of material disposal to land- when it comes to the environmental can pollute nearby ground water,
fill has doubled over the past four years pressures that are facing our industry. streams, ditches and ponds. In order to
and now stands at some £48 per tonne. At some point we can either be reactive retain its position as one of the most
Equally the cost of nitrate- and potas- to legislation and climate change as environmentally-sound golf facilities
sium-rich fertilisers has also increased it impacts on our day to day man- in the UK, the Links Trust is currently
over the same period. With a little fore- agement or we can be pro-active by part way through the installation of
thought and planning the green waste embracing change and turning these five reedbed filtration systems, which
arising from the everyday maintenance opportunities to our advantage. ● will appropriately clean all waste water
of your facility can be collected, stored, following machinery wash-down prior
managed and transformed into a useful Lee Penrose is a senior consultant, to discharge. The systems were de-
and cost-effective fertiliser or con- Ecology and Environment, at STRI signed by the STRI and installed under
struction material. Developing a good www.ecology@stri.co.uk licence from the Scottish Environment
and Protection Agency.
The typical cost of a reedbed con-
struction including design and materi-
als is around £5,000. It’s a very cost-
effective and environmentally sound
Five reedbed filtration systems option with no ongoing maintenance
have been installed at St Andrews or running costs.
Golf Course to clean waste water
Issue 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 47
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