Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

GOLF and the environment
Herptiles and
Handicaps...
Of all sports’ facilities, golf courses,
with their mosaic of habitats,
provide arguably the best
conditions for a range of UK wildlife
species. Despite the large areas of
intensely managed grassland, which are
obviously vital to the function of the golf
course, the type of other habitats
common on golf courses, such as
waterbodies, rough grassland, scrub,
trees and hedgerows, are ideal for
wildlife.
As habitats disappear across the
country, golf courses are becoming
increasingly important for the wildlife
potential they have, and this is
increasingly recognised on their
inclusion within local councils’
Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP) and with
national designations for their wildlife
conservation importance (over 100 golf
courses in England are wholly or
partially designated as Sites of Special
Scientific Interest SSSI).
In particular, golf courses provide
good conditions for amphibians and
reptiles - together, these are referred to
28
as herptiles [no, we didn’t know that
either. Ed.]. The majority of the general
public are unaware of the presence of
these creatures on our shores, associating
reptiles, in particular, with tropical
climates and assuming these creatures to
be something we should fear. In fact, as
well as frogs and toads, three species of
newts are native to the UK and six
species of reptiles.
Perhaps the most notorious of
amphibians amongst landowners and
developers, the great crested newt
Triturus cristatus is the largest of our
native amphibians, growing up to 17cm
in length (other UK newts tend to reach
only 9cm in length), and easily
distinguished from lizards, which they
are often confused with, by their bright
orange belly.
Great crested newts are well known
amongst developers and land managers,
including golf course owners seeking to
expand or significantly alter their
courses, who have heard many horror
stories about huge sums of money
invested in the protection of one newt!
However, the presence of this species, if
identified early, will rarely halt a project,
and ecological consultants can work with
land owners and developers to ensure
cost effective and sensible solutions are
reached, that will safeguard this species
as well as ensuring the continuation of
any development works.
As for reptiles; adders (Vipera berus),
grass snakes (Natrix natrix), common
lizards (Zootoca vivipara) and slow worms
(Anguis fragilis) are present across much
of the UK, with the smooth snake
(Coronella austriaca) and the sand lizard
(Lacerta agilis) having a more restricted
distribution in the south of England.
Often feared by the general public,
reptiles in the UK pose only a minimal
risk to humans, with an adder much
more likely to escape into the
undergrowth if they see any sign of
danger, rather than stay put and attack!
Although they have different life cycles
and habitat requirements, both reptiles
and amphibians have, in common, the
need for a variety of habitats in close
proximity. Golf courses could provide a