Conservation & Ecology
providing information for the members. A project that John O’Gaunt are
involved in, and indeed many other clubs around the country, is Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator, a scheme designed to provide wildflower habitats to help bees and other pollinating insects. These areas are a big focal point for members and provide large areas of colour that are full of life in the summer. A project well worth getting involved in. Signs are a great idea and can
Kestrel box
provide useful information to members. Highlighting the Operation Pollinator areas, for example, can get people asking questions about what the scheme entails and what the area hopes to achieve. You could also have information points around the course providing details on particular species to look for. A noticeboard in the clubhouse
can provide an area where you can promote nature walks and other events along with species ID posters. Provide an area where members can report their sightings and add other information. The internet can also be a useful
Swift boxes
tool to get information across to members. Use the club’s website, emails and social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. I asked a few members at John O’Gaunt some questions:
What value do you think wildlife adds to the golf course?
Conservation notice board at John O’Gaunt “
“A golf course is part of the countryside and, as such, it will always have some flora and fauna around. The addition of flowering plants outside the normal playing area adds greatly to the beauty of the scene. The fauna, particularly birds with their song and appearance, and butterflies and dragonflies also increase the pleasure. An occasional sighting of a Muntjac always gives rise to excited comment. Squirrels, however, are a different matter.”
Fergus Moynihan, JOG member
A noticeboard in the clubhouse can provide an area where you can promote nature walks and other events along with species ID posters
“Everybody’s experience is enhanced by the sight and sounds of the wildlife witnessed on the course, whatever the weather. One never knows what is going to appear; a large dog fox walked calmly in front of our group whilst we were on the second tee a couple of years ago. It did not take any notice of us and just strolled away; magic! The sight of buzzards and even owls about during a morning stay in your memory. Golf is a long game and, whilst walking between
114 I PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
shots, it is often interesting to look around and see what is happening about you. In todays ‘rush world’ it is a privilege to be part of a natural, unspoilt environment where nature and wildlife flourish. Where golfers and wildlife exist side by side, everyone gains, especially at a club run with both in mind; far better than a sterile manicured setup. Members can be educated to the pluses of a thriving wildlife culture and our club is a fine example, with enthusiastic staff and an expert, Steve Thompson, who keeps all informed on notice boards and e-mails and spends a lot of his spare time arranging events like the dusk badger watches and bird ringing, all of which are very popular. So, if the right staff are available and the wildlife is present on the course, utilise these factors to everyone’s benefit.”
Mike Morris, JOG member
How much more enjoyment do you get from a round of golf whilst looking out for wildlife on your way round?
“I am amazed by the response of playing partners who are blindly following their ball around the course when I point out that such and such a bird is calling or flying overhead. They’ve often noticed nothing. For me, it makes the whole experience of playing a round of golf as good as a walk in the countryside. When the wildflowers were blooming by the walk up to the 7th tee, a number of players commented most favourably.”
This is just a handful of members out of many hundreds but, once I have their interest, I know many more will follow. A golf course really is a fantastic
place for wildlife and, now you have read this, hopefully you will have ideas on how you can tell your members what’s really out there amongst all the grass.”
Great Spotted Woodpecker
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