Hebridean’s are known to be able to control invasive flora species such as nettles and creeping thistles.

Sheep lend a helping hand on the Links

The sheep are back! Next time you’re out near the ninth of the Jubilee Course take a look over to the Outhead dunes and you will see a flock of hebridean sheep. Hebridean’s are known to be able to control invasive flora species such as nettles and creeping thistles thus allowing the more desired flowers to flourish; without these animals this area would soon become overgrown and unkempt. We observed this area in June and found four skylark nests. Skylarks are on the RSPB’s Red List of Endangered Species and require all the help they can get so good work sheep!

An interesting insect showed up on the Links this week; a painted lady butterfly. These far travelling species are able to fly all the way from North Africa to Iceland stopping only a few times to refuel – amazing considering they only weigh a couple of grams! Other butterflies noted this past week were red admiral, small white, peacock and small tortoiseshell.

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Painted lady butterfly.

Last season’s heather management has paid off with many reports of how spectacular it looks in flower. The dreaded heather beetle seems to have moved on too so this is all good for our bees and butterflies. We aim to undertake more heather management this coming winter time in the form of seed collection, flailing and turf stripping – all of these will encourage the heather to grow but I have to point out that we are trying to encourage it more within the out of play areas rather than the golfers rough.

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Heather on the Eden Course.

Elsewhere at the Home of Golf, the different type of wildflower count now stands at 143 whereas the bird count is 88. Keep an eye out for passing wheatears, there seems to be quite a few on the Links of late.

Words by James Hutchinson, Environmental Officer

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