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The management of the site provides
plenty of opportunities for wildlife to flourish. A photo montage
with commentary on the flora and fauna is displayed at tournaments,
and players are encouraged to appreciate the ecology of the course.
No survey has been carried out and I am no expert,
but I have made some observations and hope to build up this section
over time and with contributions from others more knowledgable than
me. There are pages on: -
Trees and Shrubs
Plants and Flowers
Animals
Birds
Fish
Insects
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Trees & Shrubs
This is going to be quite a long list. Lets start with what was
there originally:
Cedar of Lebanon - my favourite tree. Beautiful mature specimen
on the bank by the 12th basket.
Beech - semi mature specimen in front of 18th tee.
Copper beech - weeping version near 18th basket.
Alder - by the river and 5th basket, but many now planted
by 1st fairway.
Italian Alder - the "Cordata" has a more narrow
upright habit ideal for a hazard in the middle of the 2nd and 3rd
fairways!
Hawthorn - the predominant species in the internal hedge
and by the road.
Blackthorn - most obviously present on the path running by
the 5th hole.
Field Maple - there is one woven into the hedge behing the
1st hole. I planted some on 14 but they were destroyed by squirrels.
Wytch Elm - there is one in hedge by the 3rd fairway. Quite
large leaves.
Elder - lots of this in the hedge by holes 6 and 7. Also
prominent on hole 13.
Willow - blown over in hedge by hole 12.
Poplar (Grey) on boundary on hole 5.
Holly - just beyond 5th basket, and I planted some in the
corner closest to the front door of the clinic.
Oak - overhangs the railings near the 15th tee. I also planted
about 300 in the new woodland. Most didn't survive, but some are
now well established.
Ash - two mature trees in the hedge by the road. As with
the Oak, I planted 300 in the new woodland.
Walnut - is not rooted in my land but close to the 15th tee.
Gorse - grows on the bank near the 13th tee.
Plants & Flowers
There are quite a few wild flowers on the course, particularly in
the damper areas and by the stream.
Lesser Celandine is the first flower to show in early March.
It has yellow flowers and can be found under hedges and in the woodland.
Purple Spearmain is a more striking plant with purple flowers
reaching up to a metre high. It grows by the bridge on hole 8.
Foxgloves grow under the hedge along hole 13.
Daffodils appear around the course from March. Mostly planted
by me.
Ragged Robin grows in Helen's Mire.
Animals
Here are some of the animals that can be found on the course:
Fox - many sightings. They are welcome
to all the rabbits they can eat!
Deer - spotted a large deer twice. Also spotted a Muntjack
walking along 3rd fairway..
Rabbit - all over the bloody place. The little blighters
strip any bark or leaves they can get their teeth on!
Mink - vicious little killers. Spotted a couple of times
near the river.Not native to Britain. May explain the decrease in
Swans.
Squirrel - stripped every bit of bark off some maples I planted,
so they are not in my good books. They are based in the grounds
of the Clinic.
Mole - those mole hills are a nuisance, and tend to knacker
the mowing machinery, so they are not particularly welcome.
Mouse - has been seen in the store room, and the evidence
is plain to see with paper and plastic being nibbled.
Snake - grass snake spotted on a few occasions on the lower
level. Only 2 or 3 feet long, they avoid humans and are not poisonous.
Birds
I'm no ornithologist, but here are a few of the birds that have
been spotted on the course. Let me know what else you see, and where
you see it.
Swans are seen on the river and occasionally
on the grass. A few years ago you could see as many as 12 at a time,
but fewer now.
Mallards on the river and also in the stream, even up by
hole 1.
Kingfishers can be seen near the river. I've only seen them twice,
but what a brilliant sight they are.
Herons can be seen quite often. The stream on hole 5 is best
spot.
Hawks are common, hovering over the course.
Buzzards are fairly frequently spotted. Bigger than hawks
and usually higher.
Jays are not seen so often, but memorable for their plumage
Woodpeckers are more often heard than seen, usually in the
grounds of the clinic.
Pigeons are in abundance.
Crows are always present too. Tend to be based in the grounds
of the clinic.
Robins are most likely found near the hedges.
Wrens are found near the hedges and stream.
Blackbirds most likely near wood or hedges
Pheasants could be just about anywhere on the course, often
in the grass
Fish & Aquatic Life
I don't know much about fish, but you can see them in the river and
in the stream. Mostly you see small fry in the stream, but when clearing
out grass from the stream I have found fish up to 4 or 5 inches long.
I have also found frogs on the 5th hole.
Insects
Not much of an expert on insects, but just to start things off:
Dragonflies - by the river.
Wasps - had a nest in a burrow on hole 6 one year
Bees
Horse flies - like big house flies, but they are after your
blood!
Butterflies - whites, red admirals
Caterpillars - obviously. Sometimes find a mass of black
ones on nettles.
Crane flies - Daddy Long Legs
A small family of Spiders usually make an appearance on one
or two weekends per year!
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