Conservation & Ecology
Gaudet Luce name plate in the apex of the house
comment on the colour of the displays. And, what really impresses me, is that they will keep flowering all the way into the middle of November”
“Even now, our members frequently
This bank in the relief car park at Fulford Heath is usually a prime target for nettles and other weeds
Andy Laing seeding. The mix is added to kiln dried sand
48 PC APRIL/MAY 2013
maintain. They not only provide very attractive colour from mid-June onwards, they are also a lot cheaper than traditional seasonal bedding plants.” “On an annual basis, it costs around £15-20 per square metre for bedding plants, taking into account the costs of seedbed preparation, fertiliser and the planting and weeding by hand, and irrigation. By comparison, these flower mixtures don’t need fertiliser, and only a small amount of preparation to generate a seedbed. Once established, they shade out any weeds, so no further work is needed. So this option can cost less than £1 per square metre.” At Fulford Heath, such was the popularity of the flower mixture in the first summer that golf members wanted some for themselves. Seeing an opportunity, Kim had 20g of seeds decanted into wage packet envelopes, added a label with help from Limagrain, and then sold them in the club shop! “Even now, our members frequently comment on the colour of the displays. And, what really impresses me, is that they will keep flowering all the way into the middle of November,” says Kim. Establishing the flower areas is a simple low maintenance process. The selected areas are sprayed off in February with glyphosate, and a landscape rake used to make a tilth. Only 2g of seed is required per square metre. So, Kim mixes it in a 50:50 ratio with zeolite, to ensure an even distribution when sowing. “The areas aren’t huge, so we hand-sow the seed mix. I actually think it’s quicker and more accurate. And the zeolite makes it easy to see where the seed has been sown. We go back over the ground with the rake and then roll the ground. We aim for the seed to be just under 1cm below the surface.” “The flowers have a high visual impact and give some seasonal variation to the course,” adds Kim. “It’s also a very low cost option, which is important to us.” Last year, around five acres was sown to the one meadow flower mixture. This year, Kim intends to try some mixtures from the newly expanded Colour Splash range, which have been specifically designed to provide habitats and food
sources for bees, butterflies, insects and small mammals. With bee populations in decline, Kim has also been interested in flower mixtures which would provide a source of pollen and attract bees. In 2011, he sowed a mixture containing phacelia which attracts bees, as well as clovers, sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil. The phacelia creates a very purple show of colour - and also gets positive comments from members.
The word spreads
This is a small industry, and shows and events through the year are a great opportunity to discuss challenges and ideas with fellow groundsmen and course managers. At BTME in Harrogate 2012, Kim, and Andy Laing from the relatively new Gaudet Luce golf course, found themselves talking about their experiences with flower mixtures and conservation mixtures. Gaudet Luce Golf Club opened in 1995, and takes its name from a coat of arms found inside the original farmhouse at the site. Andy Laing joined full time in 1999 after working part time at the site since its construction. He then took on the role of course manager in 2004. This club is also keen to take an eco- friendly approach to the environment. New trees and hedges have been planted to create habitats for wildlife, and a composter is used to recycle tree and grass cuttings, along with cardboard and other green waste from the site. The club is very close to residential
areas of Droitwich, and several footpaths have been made through the course which the general public are encouraged to use. This is considered not just good PR for the club, but also helps swell the numbers of social members who come to spend money in the clubhouse. “This is a fairly open course. We don’t have the established oaks and ash trees, like some of the older clubs,” explains Andy. “We also have a lot of out of play areas, and open areas in between holes which require a lot of mowing through the season.” “We thought establishing some colourful flower areas would improve the
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