NEWS R&A and RSPB partnership
BASIS and STRI step up environmental offering
BASIS and the STRI have joined forces to provide a new modular training course that will help greenkeepers, groundsmen and amenity contractors to protect the environments in which they work.
New conservation advisor appointed to support R&A
The R&A has agreed a new partnership with the RSPB to address wildlife conservation and the management of natural habitats at golf courses throughout the United Kingdom.
A new position, which has been funded by The R&A, has been created within the UK's largest nature conservation charity to advise golf clubs on the management of wildlife species and promote best practice to a wide network of golf courses to support their conservation aims.
Marie Athorn, who has a PhD from the University of Nottingham on habitat creation and is an experienced consultant ecologist, joined the RSPB on 13th January to undertake the new role. She will be tasked with:
• Providing direct support to 35 golf courses on conservation management of priority species and habitats
• Creating a golf conservation network to connect golf course managers with ecological specialists
• Delivering a training programme and suite of education resources in order to foster the use of best practice in wildlife conservation by golf course managers
• Promoting and communicating the work undertaken by golf courses with industry stakeholders
Educational resources
Steve Isaac, Director - Sustainability at The R&A, said, "We are working closely with the RSPB to offer valuable support and advice to golf clubs and their course managers for the protection and management of wildlife species and their habitats."
"Golf courses can provide significant
opportunities for the conservation of rare and protected species and this new role will help to create educational resources and develop best practice that can be widely shared throughout a network of clubs. We look forward to working with Marie and seeing the progress that can be made in this area."
Exciting partnership
Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of the RSPB said, "This is a really exciting partnership that will deliver good things for nature at a time when everyone is looking at what they can do to help."
"Golf is a sport that combines a rich heritage and tradition with cutting edge technology and innovation and I expect to see our partnership embrace this as we look at how golf courses can provide desperately needed sanctuaries for the UK's wildlife."
"Working together we can ensure that we give ground staff the skills they need to make this a real and lasting success and I hope our partnership is something that other landowners can learn from."
Passion for golf
Marie Athorn, the RSPB's conservation advisor to The R&A said, "This is an amazing opportunity to bring together my passion for golf and my love for the environment. It is impossible not to notice the threats facing our wildlife and golf courses can play an important part in protecting and saving species here in the UK."
"We have some fantastic green spaces that are cared for by dedicated grounds staff for the benefit of the millions of people who play golf. Through this partnership we will be exploring how we can all work together to ensure the game we love is also benefitting local wildlife."
At a time when climate change is high on the agenda, the Managing Ecological and Environmental Landscapes (MEEL) qualification is designed for professionals involved in enhancing the ecological and environmental features of the landscape from a golf or amenity perspective.
Speaking at the launch at BTME, Stephen Jacob, BASIS CEO, said the new qualification will provide a core module, followed by a choice of specialisms, one for greenkeepers, and the other for professionals managing municipal landscapes.
"The golf specialism will focus on an integrated approach to habitat management, regeneration and creation, all which the sports turf sector already recognises as vital to achieving environmental sustainability while continuing to maximise the enjoyment of golf," he said.
"The amenity specialism is geared towards professionals involved in creating management plans for enhancing environmental features of the landscape such as woodlands, wetlands and hedgerows.”
"We're delighted to provide candidates with the opportunity to further increase knowledge and understanding of their specific role, to provide the highest quality landscapes, while playing a key part in protecting the environment," Stephen added.
The course has been developed with the STRI over the last two years, taking industry feedback into account to ensure each module is tailored to the particular needs of greenkeepers or groundsmen and amenity contractors.
Commenting on the training structure, Dr Christian Spring, STRI research and operations manager, said that, over four days, the course will be delivered by a team of experts at the STRI, and will combine classroom and practical learning sessions.
"This new qualification is a fantastic opportunity for those working in the amenity industry to take the next step in their career, and we look forward to the first intake later this year," concluded Christian.
The first course is set to commence in autumn 2020, with further dates to follow.
For information on dates and timings please visit
https://www.basis-reg.co.uk/training
BASIS Points for magazine subscribers
BASIS awards two CPD points for ‘paid-for’ subscribers to the hard copy version of Pitchcare magazine, due to the “diverse range of content that relates to the control, management and use of pesticides”.
Subscribers can now obtain a further two valuable CPD points for their Professional
8 PC February/March 2020
register, simply by paying for a subscription to the ‘hard copy’ version of the Pitchcare magazine.
Anyone wishing to claim their points should email their full name, BASIS membership number, date of birth and postcode to edi-
tor@pitchcare.com.
*BASIS is an independent standards setting and auditing organisation for the pesticide, fertiliser and allied industries.
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