Birdies guaranteed at the course made for wildlife

Jane Smernicki, The Scotsman, 31 May 2000

Golfers on a course with royal connections can be guaranteed a birdie or two, thanks to a pioneering conservation scheme to develop the area as a wildlife reserve.

Protected species such as tree sparrows and redpolls are now in abundance at the Duke’s golf course at Craigtoun in Fife which is dedicated to the Duke of York, following careful planning and design to make it an ideal habitat for threatened wildlife.

The public are being given the chance to walk the fairways without their golf bags to see the brown hares that graze on the greens and the buzzards which soar overhead.

Owen Brown, the course manager, said the scheme was partly aimed at changing people’s perceptions about the impact golf courses have on the environment.

He said: “There is a misconception that golf courses are bad for the environment because of the dangerous pesticides and herbicides which are used. This is a fallacy - golf courses are the ideal environment for many species whose natural habitat is otherwise in decline.”

The Duke’s course was opened in 1995 and is designed and managed with wildlife in mind. The abundant water and scrubland areas make it an ideal habitat for birds, mammals and insects. The design has proved so successful that brown hare, grey partridge and red squirrel populations are in slower decline than in surrounding areas.

The scheme has the added bonus of making the course more economical to maintain. The wildlife-friendly design is a move away from the traditional pristine course layout which requires a large amount of pesticides and expensive drainage systems.

Water is a main feature of the course and the Duke’s main pond is now home to one of only two Scottish habitats for dragon and damsel flies. Grass buffer strips have also been placed around the pond to prevent pesticides from polluting it.

Nest and bat boxes have been put up around the course and rough grassland strips laid to act as wildlife corridors. Rangers closely monitor animal numbers and have been delighted with the outcome.

Les Hatton, of Fife Ranger Service, said: “There is more land under golf course than under nature reserve in the UK, so it makes sense to develop these areas for threatened species.

“Habitat management has helped stabilise and increase populations of farm land birds which have been in danger through a move towards intensive farming.” The Duke’s course has now been included in the National Farmyard Walk programme organised by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.

Visitors to the course on 5 June will be given the chance to do some wildlife spotting on a guided tour led by Mr Owen and Mr Hatton.

Catherine Lloyd, of the advisory group, said: “We have included this in the programme because not only does it give the public the chance to see some wonderful wildlife, it will encourage farmers and other course designers to think about this kind of course design, both to help protected species and as a means of saving money.”