Environmental News

Picture of swans nesting at the pond in the south west corner of Carnoustie Links sent in by A. Donaldson.

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Efforts by the University of Dundee Botanic Garden and Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee to develop rare Scottish wildflowers resulted this week in the planting of the Scottish Sea Pea at various areas close to Carnoustie beach.
Botanic Garden staff, led by curator Alisdair Hood, last year extracted seed pods from existing Sea Pea plants growing at Carnoustie. These were successfully propagated and were ready to plant out.
The native Scottish Sea Pea has become rare on the local coastline but staff at the Botanic Garden have been successful before in nurturing plants.
“Conservation of plant species is one of the important roles of Botanic Gardens and we are delighted that we have been successful in growing these Sea Peas, working alongside Carnoustie Golf Links and the Scottish Golf Environment Group” said Alasdair Hood.
The planting was carried out by the Botanic Garden staff, the Head Greenkeeper of the Buddon Links, Steve Mitchell and Lynn Jopling of the Scottish Golf Environment Group.
Graeme Duncan, CGLMC General Manager, said “Carnoustie Golf Links are delighted to assist with this very worthwhile project. We are committed that, as well as maintaining the golf courses, we also try to improve and develop the natural environment, and we look forward to these plants maturing and adding colour to the links”
Scottish Sea Peas have pretty purple flowers and have adapted to beach life by developing deep and tenacious roots. However, the plants do need particular conditions in order to survive and prosper.

Photo shows from left
Alisdair Hood, Steve Mitchell, Clare Reaney of Dundee Botanic Gardens and Lynn Jopling of the Scottish Golf Environment Group.

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Please find the Annual Ecological Assessment of the Championship course carried out by Dr Bob Taylor of the S.T.R.I. Click here to view.

The report is advisory and CGLMC must always balance ecological and golfing requirements. However CGLMC work closely with Dr Taylor and are committed to carrying out his recommendations when we can.

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There are 50 bird boxes on the Links of all various sizes. They are all construced in-house by our handyman, Barry Irving. They are made to accommodate different species of birds seen on the links e.g. Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Thrush, Woodpecker, Owl, Kestrel and Dipper. There has been a large box constructed out at the lake to try and attract Sand Martins.

When Barry is not busy with bird boxes, he assists workshop staff by cleaning the workshop and painting course furniture.

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The CGLMC and in consultation with Angus Council and in line with its Woodland management policy is proposing to bring the area of trees described by the 6th, 7th and 16th holes on the Burnside otherwise known as “Burnside Triangle, under a more active and appropriate woodland management regime. The area was a single age plantation of Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The 2006 tree survey counted 135 Scots pine, 139 Lodgepole pine and two Birch in this woodland. The survey also identified the need for replacement planting. It is an important visual feature of the Burnside course. Over the years the central area has been largely windblown and this left a perimeter of trees. Many are poorly shaped and prone to further wind blow in particular the Lodgepole pine.
It is proposed initially to plant up the centre of the wood and fringes with approximately 75 Scots pines 15 birch 15 rowan and a few oak at approximately 5metre centers. In line with good forestry practice and legislation these will replace those already felled, those dead trees which currently pose a health and safety risk and approx 20 non-native Lodgepole pine. These are weak and of poor shape requiring thinning and are marked with a white cross. It is also proposed to encourage natural regeneration of holly and birch as it occurs to augment the new tree planting. Some of the felled timber will be left in stacks in the centre of the wood providing another habitat.
The aim is over the coming years is to develop an open mixed native woodland of varying age structure to enhance and perpetuate its visual amenity, biodiversity and sustainability.

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Below are the current bird box locations:

25mm holes

• 1 x lime trees at 10th green, Championship
• 1 x crab apple at tea hut, right of 5th green
• 1 x trees left of 5th, Burnside
• 1 x next to 4th tee, Burnside
• 1 x behind 8th green, Buddon
• 2 x behind 15th green, Buddon
• 1 x next to 6th tee, Burnside
• 1 x in pine tree behind 1st tee, Burnside

28mm holes

• 1 x left of 5th, Burnside
• 1 x right of 2nd fairway, Burnside (end nearest small practice area)
• 1 x pine tree at 11th green, Championship
• 1 x behind 13th tee, Burnside
• 1 x in trees on right hand side of 8th tee to ditch walkway, Buddon
• 1 x pine trees on right hand side of 14th Hogan tee, Championship
• 1 x in trees 6th tee, Buddon
• 1 x in trees behind 16th tee, Championship
• 1 x in trees between 6th & 14th holes, Buddon
• 1 x in trees behind 10th tee, Buddon
• 2 x in trees right of 7th hole, Buddon
• 1 x in trees between 7th & 9th holes, Buddon
• 1 x between 8th tee & 9th tee, Buddon

32mm holes

• 1 x small pine next to ladies 9th tee, Championship
• 1 x in trees left of 9th fairway, Championship (level with fairway bunker)
• 1 x trees right hand side of 7th Burnside
• 1 x in a pine tree on left hand side of 6th, Buddon

Open Boxes (blackbird & thrush)

• 1 x back right of 8th green, Buddon
• 2 x in trees on right hand side of 8th walkway, Buddon
• 1 x behind Buddon practice green
• 2 x in trees at left hand side of 14th Hogan tee, Championship
• 1 x in pine trees behind 13th green, Championship
• 1 x left of 5th, Burnside
• 1 x behind 4th green, Burnside
• 1 x left of 6th tee, Burnside
• 1 x start of trees on left hand side of 9th, Championship
• 1 x left hand side of 15th, Buddon

Bat Boxes

• 3 x right of 5th, Burnside, White Willow
• 3 x back left of 8th green, Buddon

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