CONSERVATION & ECOLOGY
deadwood, leaving standing stems and fallen timber for wildlife to colonise.” “We don’t waste time logging and bagging. Visitors can collect logs from the car park to take home if they want to - leaving a suitable donation of course.” “Some visitors say this part of the site
looks untidy, but the key is to understand woodland management and, within such a natural setting, wood anemone, red campion and bluebells thrive.” Tawny owls and sparrowhawks nest in the woods, whilst buzzards and red kites often visit, as does the goldcrest, Britain’s smallest bird, which is drawn to the standing conifers populating the golf course fringes. “Thanks to the course, we have one of the finest collections of parkland conifers in Birmingham, a tree specialist tells us," Viv notes.
The population of mixed woodland also includes beech, horse chestnut, hazel copses, Blue Atlas Cedar and a cherished
corner of oak, categorised as ancient woodland. Viv’s engagement with the public extends to tree adoption. “Out of our 4,500 population, 1,500 are numbered and can be adopted - of which 100 have been taken up to date. Specimens can also be planted as a memorial or in celebration.” Fallen leaves stay where they drop, ready
for next season, Viv explains. “As we don’t cultivate plants for sale, there’s no need for leaf mould for potting on.”
Grass clippings are left to rot down and wood chippings go straight onto the site to rot. We don’t run any composting and aim to keep all our waste here.”
The wilderness area, a mosaic lowland scrub habitat, attracts warblers, bullfinches and chiffchaffs, Viv reveals. The park is home to at least two species of bat. The lure for wildlife will strengthen further once the pond is re-established in the wilderness, she adds. “We expect to draw in amphibians such as newts, and a range of other pondlife and water birds. Dragonflies pass through, but once we create a suitable environment for them, we hope they will linger.”
“Doug is busy developing scrapes for insects and havens for solitary bees by introducing a looser top level of earth.” When wildlife threatens to intrude in ways that threaten park management, the team will take action, but in an environmentally appropriate way. “Our commitment to green practices means we keep a constant eye on chemicals use,” Viv explains, “and we try out new ideas whenever possible, like applying mustard to help control worms.” Warley Woods is on a stepped
programme of change as it bids to enhance the feeling of “the outdoor room” for visitors and members, whilst offering wider wildlife diversity on the outskirts of Britain’s second city.
Celebrating a century of golf provision in 2021, this historic green space is drawing in
What’s in the Shed
Toro 3250 greens mower Jacobsen TR3 for tees, collars and approaches
Toro 4240 for fairways and the park
Toro 3500 for the rough and rose gardens
Toro Workman 3300 diesel utility vehicle. Total of 6,000 hours completed. “It’s been to the moon and back”. Use it for heavy duty, moving sand for topdressing or bunker renovations.
Toro Workman MDX electric for raking bunkers, moving holes
Kyoti front loader tractor and cab
Kubota compact tractor (bought from The Chase) Tractor-mounted sprayer (300l)
Massey Ferguson, 30 years old, yellow. Here before I took over.
Wood chipper, hauled by the Massey Ferguson Stihl strimmers x 2 Stihl chainsaws x 2
Knapsack sprayers to degrease machinery, plus 500ml hand-helds
PC August/September 2020 35
friends and supporters locally, regionally and internationally, under the expert management of a highly committed team. Viv speaks for them all when she states: “This special place wins your heart.” Dame Julie would certainly agree with that sentiment.
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