2006 Wildlife Booklet V7

This publication, written in the main by The Sports Turf Research Institute, has been produced by the organisations shown above Designed and printed by PPL Sport & Leisure Ltd Photo credits Alan C Birch, John Buckley/HCT, Getty Images, Kelly Harmar, John Newton, Chris Packham, The R&A and Robert Taylor The Royal Birkdale Printed on paper from sustainably managed forests Golf Club For all you need to know about 17-20 July 2008 managing your golf course log on to www.bestcourseforgolf.org A guide to the management of the links for wildlife and conservation INTRODUCTION Black knapweed The Open Championship 1998 at Royal Birkdale saw The R&A publish its very first wildlife and conservation guide.The success of this booklet resulted in the guides becoming an annual feature at each Open since 2000 and it gives me great pleasure to introduce this year’s edition which sees a return to these famous links. The purpose of these booklets is to raise awareness of the important wildlife and habitats found on and around Open Championship courses, and the commitment all of our venues have to good environmental practice. Royal Birkdale demonstrates these attributes in abundance with excellent programmes of scrub and tree removal to restore links habitat and well documented management that cares for the endangered sand lizard and natterjack toad.The fact that Royal Birkdale achieves this, and produces a course worthy of an Open Championship, demonstrates that golf and the environment can co-exist to the benefit of both. The R&A is also committed to the environmental stewardship of golf courses. Careful planning for The Open ensures that the Championship causes minimal disturbance to the sensitive links habitat and the creatures it supports. Our Golf Course Committee promotes sustainable development and management of golf courses encompassing environmental and ecological issues.To learn more, visit our best practice website www.bestcourseforgolf.org This booklet is the result of collaboration between ourselves, The Royal Birkdale Golf Club and The Sports Turf Research Institute.We are particularly grateful to The English Golf Union Ltd and Natural England who have both contributed financially to its production and I very much hope it enhances your visit to this year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. PETER DAWSON Chief Executive,The R&A 1 ABOUT THIS GUIDE THE SPORTS TURF RESEARCH INSTITUTE (STRI) This guide has been produced for the 2008 Open: the 137th Open The STRI provides Europe’s foremost independent consultancy devoted Championship and the ninth to be held at Royal Birkdale. It has been to turfgrass research, agronomy and golf-related ecological and designed for the golfer and non-golfer alike, following the Birkdale links environmental matters. STRI is a market leader, providing a national from 1st tee to 18th green to highlight the special plants and animals centre for consultancy and a recognised world centre for research.The that can be found on and around the course. STRI Ecology Service regularly advises The R&A on pre- and post-Open It is hoped that the guide will help to raise awareness of the Championship environmental issues and works closely with statutory exceptional habitats and wildlife at Royal Birkdale and that the text conservation and environmental organisations to help improve golf and photographs will enhance your enjoyment of The Open. course management outside of the greens, fairways and tees. The guide has been produced through the collaboration of the following organisations: THE ROYAL BIRKDALE GOLF CLUB Golf was first played at Birkdale Golf Club on 5th October 1889 on a THE R&A 9-hole facility situated a short distance to the east of the present The R&A is golf’s world rules and development body and organiser of course. In 1894, in order to expand, the Club moved to its current The Open Championship. It operates with the consent of more than location at Birkdale Hills, and the newly constructed 18-hole facility 130 national and international, amateur and professional organisations, opened in 1897. from over 120 countries and on behalf of an estimated 30 million A continuing desire to be a truly great course lead to significant golfers in Europe,Africa,Asia-Pacific and The Americas (outside the course revisions being made in the early 1930s following consultation USA and Mexico).The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the with the highly respected golf course architecture company, Hawtree game’s governing body in the United States and Mexico. and J.H.Taylor Limited. On the back of these major changes came the By developing The Open Championship as one of the world’s great decision to construct a new clubhouse to complement the quality and sporting events and an outstanding commercial success,The R&A is prestige of the course.This now iconic structure was completed in able to invest an annual surplus into grass roots development projects 1935 and was built to a radical design for its day. around the world. Particular emphasis is placed on the The new and improved course continued to raise the profile of the encouragement of junior golf, on the development of the game in Birkdale Golf Club, to the point where, in 1951, King George VI emerging golfing nations, on coaching and the provision of open-to-all granted permission for the Club to be renamed The Royal Birkdale courses and practice facilities. Golf Club. Since then, the Club has hosted eight Open Championships The R&A also provides best practice guidance on all aspects of golf and two Ryder Cups.The Amateur Championship and the Weetabix course management, through its website bestcourseforgolf.org, Women’s British Open Championships were held here in 2005 and helping to grow the game in a commercially and environmentally this year, of course, sees the return of The Open. sustainable way. 10th Hole 2 3 THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION LTD (EGU) NATURAL ENGLAND (NE) The English Golf Union has served as the governing body of male Golf courses play a vital role in the protection and enhancement of amateur golf in England since its formation in 1924. From the National the natural environment in England, particularly at the coast on links Golf Centre in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, the EGU looks after the land where natural areas have been protected from development by interests of its 1,900 affiliated golf clubs and their 740,000 members, virtue of golf courses.These places are special because of golf, not making it one of the largest sports governing bodies in England. despite it. In 2002 a partnership between the the EGU,The R&A and Natural Natural England works in partnership with the English Golf Union England initiated the English Golf Environmental Advisory Scheme to look at how we can better manage these areas around England to (EGEAS) to encourage golf clubs to consider making environmental help wildlife thrive. improvements to courses and their greenkeeping practices.This One in every 20 golf courses in England is nationally important for successful initiative has now benefited over 250 golf clubs, including wildlife and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Royal Birkdale, with subsidised ecological and environmental advice. Thus, over 6,000 hectares of SSSI land are on golf courses and 81% of The scheme offers golf clubs two advisory visits from the STRI this area is in good condition. Sand dunes and lowland heath are two Ecology Team:the first to set a number of realistic targets and the threatened habitats that particularly benefit. Royal Birkdale itself, second to assess the resulting benefits for both wildlife enhancement which forms part of a SSSI, is home to marsh orchids and helleborines and the golf course. On satisfactory project completion, the club is that live in its sand dunes. awarded a certificate of achievement. Much publicity has been made of the English Golf Environmental Advisory Scheme in local, regional and national media, including British Wildlife and BBC Wildlife publications. 14th Hole 4 5 CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE These designations are in place to protect the ‘mobile’ and ‘fixed’ or SEFTON COAST AND ‘grey’ sand dunes and also the ‘Atlantic Decalcified’ dunes that are THE ROYAL BIRKDALE GOLF CLUB known to support the only population in northwest England of petalwort and the only known population in England of Baltic rush.As Royal Birkdale is one of the most ecologically sensitive courses that well as these plants, the area is a hugely popular site for overwintering hosts The Open and, along with the surrounding estuaries, mud flats, wading birds and is home to several other rarities such as natterjack sand flats and sand dunes, is recognised under local, national and toads, great crested newt, sand lizard and marsh helleborine orchid. international designations for its outstanding nature conservation value. The Club, acknowledging the responsibility they have to maintain Royal Birkdale lies within the Sefton Coast Special Area of their habitats in a favourable condition, has developed close working Conservation (SAC).This was designated largely for its vast expanse of relationships with Natural England, the Environment Agency, the diverse sand dune systems which, at over 2,000 hectares, is the largest Sefton Woodland Owners Task Group, Sefton Land Managers and the dune complex in the UK. Royal Birkdale encompasses approximately British Trust for Nature Conservation Volunteers.This should ensure 100 hectares of these dunes and, with 80% of the golf course left to that Royal Birkdale continues to be renowned for its conservation nature, the course blends in beautifully with its surroundings. efforts, toward which Chris Whittle, Royal Birkdale’s Course Manager, The Sefton Coast SAC stretches from Southport (just north of has made a considerable contribution in his 14 years at the Club, and Royal Birkdale), south along nearly 15 miles of coastline to the town for recognising just how the environment contributes to the superb of Crosby, encompassing a total area of over 4,500 hectares.The area round of golf it has to offer.

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