Waste management - England Golf

The Golf Course:
Best practice guide to the management of selected waste streams
Note:
On many golf courses, including heathland
golf courses, tree stumps may be providing
valuable winter hibernacula for reptiles.
The removal of stumps in highly sensitive
areas, i.e. where snakes are known to
exist, may result not only in the loss of the
hibernacula but also all populations of
hibernating snakes should these be
brought up with the stumps. This has
occurred on several occasions due to
indiscriminate stump removal—a practice
that can have quite a devastating effect
over large areas of the countryside (all
snakes tend to come back to a few areas
to over-winter).
Larger dead wood
Many of our wood-loving invertebrates are declining within the countryside. Some
are on the endangered listings due to our misconceived ideals on tidiness.
Invertebrates require standing timber just as they require timber lying on the ground.
Log piles (eco-piles) of up to 1.5 metres in height and up to 10 metres in length will
provide a broad range of habitat conditions for a great diversity of wildlife species.
Do not overlook the creation of vertical log piles. These need not be more than 1
metre in height. The timber can either be inserted into the ground or leant to a more
solid start point.
Standing trees
Standing trees should be retained wherever possible and providing the risks to safety
are low. It may be that some judicious and selective trimming may be required simply
to allay any potential safety concerns.
A number of more conservation-minded
golf courses are giving consideration to
lifting and dislodging stumps immediately
after felling so as to increase the
overwintering potential for reptiles. This
would clearly constitute best practice but
should only be undertaken where it is clear
that the stumps provide little means of
access to reptiles.
If stumps do need to be lifted and
removed, then these should be taken to a
designated burn area and stockpiled for no
more than a few days before burning.
Wherever possible, aim to relocate stumps
within areas of woodland below the playing
line.
In summary
Aim to retain as many dead trees as possible on the course. If they cannot
be left standing, fell and stockpile, preferably in a vertical manner.
Leave all dead fallen timber as close as possible to the tree from which it
came.
Small branches/brash could be retained within the woodlands, preferably
scattered, to protect the ground flora rather than to smother it.
Burning should always be a last resort and should only be considered if
other alternatives are not possible. Check for local bylaws before embarking
on any major burning activity.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Best Practice Approach for English and Welsh Golf Clubs
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