Golf clubs fight against the loss of biodiversity

Golf courses across the South Downs National Park have joined forces to share knowledge and practical support to combat biodiversity loss.

The project aims to help greenkeepers create oases for wildlife, particularly bees and butterflies, and introduce mowing methods to protect rare calcareous grasslands and encourage wildflowers.

A total of 14 golf clubs from across Sussex attended a seminar at Pyecombe Golf Club near Brighton, where 34 species of butterflies were discovered in 2023.

Caroline Croft, operations director of Sussex-based conservation charity Southwood Foundation, said: “Britain's biodiversity is under threat and we need nature corridors to enable wildlife to thrive.”

She said golf clubs could “play a significant role” and suggested that extending the rough where possible was a “really impactful step” that could be taken.

“Clubs that do this see a significant increase in the number of pollinators such as butterflies without affecting the game.”

The idea is also to help the clubs save resources and fight pests in harmony with nature, explained the manager.

A 'cut and collect' system has been introduced which enables the conservation of rare calcareous grasslands and allows wildflowers to grow as the cuttings are collected rather than left on the ground.

“Huge” savings

Tim Brewster is course manager at Lewes Golf Club, which received a grant to purchase a cutting and collecting machine.

He said: “After the first year, I noticed the yellow rattlesnake spreading in larger numbers in different areas of the course. This is already thinning the areas, which is great for the golfers to find their ball, but also positive for the wildflowers.

“The savings we've made are huge. We've reduced the time it took to complete this work to a month and a half. That's almost halved the time and saved us a lot of money on diesel and labor.”

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