Our overall aim is to develop a new stand of heather for both ecology and visual purposes.We hope to have this on show by next spring.

Strimming, sand martins & parasols

This past week the Environmental team undertook a brand new project on the Balgove Course. The tall mounding to the rear of the 3rd green had dense vegetation at the bottom of the mound and poor vegetation at the top. I say “had” because Natasha (pictured above) has just strimmed it all down. We then collected the arisings and composted them. Our next task was to incorporate our harvested heather seeds into the area. Our overall aim is to develop a new stand of heather for both ecology and visual purposes. We hope to have this on show by next spring.

heather
Above: Old Course team, Joe and Sean harvesting heather seeds.

Another important task we managed to work our magic on was this potential nesting site for sand martins. There aren’t any here at this time of year but there will be in April so we’re being proactive in our approach to these fine birds. Martins like to make their nests in sandy open faces so we created this area on the Jubilee Course in the hope of attracting a pair or two. You’ll notice we’ve left some exposed pipes which we hope the martins will use as an entrance to their nests.

sand martins
Above: potential nesting site for sand martins.

There have been a few new bird sightings to report. There’s been visiting redwings from Iceland and two very tiny goldcrests. Both species can be seen on The Castle Course although you’ll need your binoculars to see the latter as they are Britain’s most infinitesimal bird. A solitary pomarine skua some little auks have also been spotted just up the coast from us – highly unlikely that you’ll see either on our courses but you never know!

Elsewhere on the Links there has been another influx of fungi. The weather has been very wet and not too cold which is ideal conditions for these interesting fruits. We’ve seen waxcaps, blewits and inkcaps galore. Noted by the greenkeepers was this giganormous parasol which can be seen in the area adjacent to the Jubilee practice ground.

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Above: giganormous parasol fungi.

Words by James Hutchinson, Environmental Officer.

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