Ecologists consulted on how to best protect native species

The Royal Dublin Golf Club

Ireland

Written by: Jeff Fallon

Within our mission statement, we say that the club ‘ensures an ongoing commitment to the flora, fauna and birdlife with which we share the Island’. As part of that commitment, we engaged ecologists Faith Wilson and Tom Curtis to review the habitats and species present on our grounds and provide guidance and recommendations on how best to manage them for biodiversity.

Their study found that the Club has a rich array of flora and sand dune habitats on the links, including nine species of native wild orchids. We manage the dune and calcareous grassland habitats on the course through appropriate mowing and removal of vegetation at the end of the summer months to ensure diversity within the sward and to favour the orchids. This also favours ground nesting birds, such as Skylark.

We have tackled invasive species present on the boundaries of the club to ensure that they do not spread on the adjoining Nature Reserve and Special Area of Conservation. The Lesser Centaury, which is a threatened species in Ireland and is legally protected under the Flora Protection Order 2015 is also present on the course. The club is actively managing areas to ensure this species continues to thrive.

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