CONSERVATION & ECOLOGY
Buckthorn removal at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club
broadleaf weeds.
Sea buckthorn is incredibly robust and can grow in temperatures ranging from - 430
C to + 400 C and can withstand both
Extensive rabbit damage and buckthorn suckers
impacts in dune systems, replacing buckthorn monoculture, enriching the substrate and stabilising the dune system (a number of species in dunes dynamic systems).
funded the club to do some buckthorn colonised a number of these areas
128 PC August/September 2019
drought and saline conditions making it one of the hardiest plants. The plant is very invasive and can reproduce through both seed and vegetatively through suckers from the extensive root system. On dune systems the plant often grows laterally along the ground as the wind and sandy soil encourage instability and horizontal growth. This creates a situation which allows the plant to colonise adjoining areas more rapidly, as with its aggressive thorns it ensures that mowers and green staff are kept away and a buffer area is produced on the edge of the stands. The buffer is then colonised with new plants which grow heliotropically (towards the sun) creating a new edge and the process continues, and the area of sea buckthorn increases rapidly. Mowing does limit the spread to an extent but the plant is so hardy this often only results in the plant tillering, in fact I have even seen sea buckthorn growing on greens and surviving quite happily to the dismay
of the greenkeeper. Though not good for a smooth playing surface.
Sea buckthorn causes numerous problems with golf strategy. It creates impenetrable scrub areas that are impossible to play from, creating a very penal hazard similar to gorse.
“Gorse and water share the disadvantage that it is practically impossible to play out of them, and they are also the frequent cause of lost balls. It would appear, therefore, that they should not be used to any great extent as hazards.”
HS Colt 1920
Stands of buckthorn also create the perfect environment for rabbits. Rabbits rarely stray more than 200 metres from their burrows, therefore stands of buckthorn close to playing areas are particularly problematic. Male rabbits make scrapes to define their territory and seem to prefer short mown turf for the purpose, this often results in holes on green surrounds and on fairways. The holes have to be filled in for both golf and safety, however this is often futile as within hours the rabbits return to re-assert their territorial margins, leaving the greens staff frustrated
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156
