Golf courses across the South Downs National Park are clubbing together to share knowledge and practical support to help fight biodiversity loss. The project aims to help green-keepers create havens for wildlife, particularly bees and butterflies, as well as introduce mowing methods to protect rare chalk grassland and encourage wildflowers. A total of 14 golf clubs from across Sussex took part in a seminar at Pyecombe Golf Club, near Brighton , which has become one of the best courses in the country for chalk grassland flowers and butterflies.
Last year an ecological survey at Pyecombe Golf Club discovered 34 species of butterfly, including rare species such as the Adonis blue, brown hairstreak and grizzled skipper. Caroline Croft, operations manager at Sussex-based charity the Southwood Foundation, which is co-ordinating the project with the South Downs National Park Authority, said that clubs were now sharing practical ideas having previously worked in isolation. She said: “Biodiversity in the UK is struggling, and we need nature corridors for wildlife to be able to thrive.
I think there’s potential for golf clubs to play a significant role. “Extending the roughs where possible is one really impactful step they can take. “Clubs doing this are seeing significant increases in pollinators, such as butterflies without impeding the game, in fact enhancing the experience for players.
“It’s also about saving resources for clubs, working with nature to control pests ins.