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Below are some ideas which
you can consider now to increase the biodiversity of your golf course.
Remember, in terms of nature conservation you can improve the situation
for wildlife by undertaking actions directed at species, or at habitats
which will indirectly benefit species:
- Erect bird boxes of differing styles, in different locations
around the course. Front holed, open fronted, bird of prey,
bottom holed, side holed and owl boxes can all be put up, and
have been seen to be very effective. This can also help raise
golfers' awareness of the wildlife on the course.
- Erection
of bat boxes can greatly assist in provision of roosting sites.
Bat and bird boxes are especially valuable in areas of single
species, young or semi mature plantation woodland in which there
are few other natural nesting and roosting sites.
- When planting
use a diversity of native species, including broadleaves. This
will lead to greater invertebrate and bird activity within the
woodland.
- Allow decaying
timber to remain in the woodland. Where safe keep standing dead
trees. If necessary undertake management and create woodpiles
of decomposing timber. This provides a haven for decomposers
such as woodlice, beetles and fungi.
- Design
new planting with uneven edges, subtle contours and grading
from tall species to edge shrubs.
- Introduce
wildflower plugs into new woodlands to speed up their aging
and ecological establishment.
- Ensure
sufficient regeneration within woodlands. These will be your
woodlands of the future as existing mature trees die off. Consider
encouraging regeneration or underplant mature woodlands for
future.
- When planting
allow for open glades within plantations. This will increase
the structural diversity of your woodland and thus increase
the diversity of wildlife.
- In young
plantations of single species, consider ring barking trees in
safe areas to create standing dead timber.
- Reinstate
and manage hedgerows and dykes. Seek opportunities to create
new features.
- Avoid over-manicuring
of the course. Study the course and identify areas where cutting
intensity can be reduced.
- Identify
areas of wildflower interest and conserve through appropriate
management.
- Have detailed
vegetation surveys carried out for the course and its surrounds.
Mapping of habitats and identification of key species will provide
information and understanding of the ecology of the course.
This will enable you to make more informed decisions.
- Avoid or
minimise disturbance by people or vehicles in most sensitive
areas of the course.
- Manage
gorse to maintain health and vigour in desirable areas. Removal
of gorse and other scrub may be necessary in other valuable
habitats, e.g., wildflower grasslands and heather.
- Monitor
the coverage of bracken, and control if threatening to other
more interesting and important habitats. Remember, bracken can
be a valuable habitat in its own right, and its control needs
to be judged in conjunction with the provision of other habitats.
- Deposit
grass cuttings in least sensitive areas, away from open water
and avoiding species rich grasslands, heather or woodland floor
areas.
- Establish
no spray zones and buffer strips around water features and ditches.
Minimum of 3 metres.
- Enhance
ponds by increasing the amount of native wetland planting around
the margins. Possibly in conjunction with redesigning the pond
edge, creating shallow shelves and gently sloping banks.
- Create
new water features in areas of poor drainage.
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