The Award, run by The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) and Syngenta, recognises and rewards golf clubs which have successfully created pollen rich habitats on courses, leading to an increase in pollinating insects. Award entries were judged by Bob Taylor, STRI’s Ecology and Environment Manager.
Bob commented: “The results at North Foreland have seen a major transformation with the rough now alive with flying insects, moths, butterflies and grasshoppers. Bee activity within bee hotels has resulted in a gradual species increase and much enhanced environmental and ecological value.
“From the work taking place, driven by Course Manager, Dan McGrath MG, and his team at North Foreland, it is clear that this is a long term project with lots of future potential.
“Dan fully understands and appreciates what works best in the course environment and the seed selected by him indicates that he has an implicit understanding of what grows well on the course and how it blends in with the rest of the course to provide an enjoyable, colourful and inspiring course for members and the public alike.”
Bob added that the Award helps to raise awareness of Operation Pollinator, an international biodiversity programme driven by Syngenta which aims to boost the number of pollinating insects by helping to provide essential habitats for feeding and nesting. Operation Pollinator guidelines and advice has been developed specifically for golf courses in conjunction with STRI.
Judging criteria included successful habitat transition, variety of wildflowers, scale of the project and participation levels, and how effectively the club is communicating its efforts.
Syngenta Operation Pollinator Manager, Caroline Carroll, added: “North Foreland has ably demonstrated all the benefits that Operation Pollinator can deliver for a golf club, including the successful creation of new habitat to encourage ecological diversity, alongside enhancing the overall playing experience of the golf course. Importantly Dan McGrath has actively engaged with the club’s members to give them pride in what has been achieved, as well as using the initiative to generate valuable publicity to attract new players.
“Dan has also been exemplary in his willingness to share experiences with other greenkeepers. North Foreland is an extremely worthy winner of the first Operation Pollinator Award.”
Operation Pollinator
Operation Pollinator is designed to reverse the plight of bumblebees and pollinating insects in the UK and Ireland, by creating valuable new habitats in out of play areas of golf courses.
Its aim is to establish pollen and nectar rich habitat on up to 500 golf courses across the UK and Ireland, to provide the essential food sources and nesting sites for pollinating insects - including bumblebees and other important wild bees.
Operation Pollinator provides a framework of knowledge, expertise and experience to assist with the successful management of wildflower habitats in out-of-play rough, alongside the conventional management of the golf course.
For more information visit www.operationpollinator.com/golf
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