What a beautiful way to start May with the sun shining, and the newly cleared scrub at the edge of the wooded areas along the fairways revealing carpets of violet bluebells that now frame Huntercombes famous heathland course designed by Willie Park Jnr in 1901.
Once the overgrown scrub which included brambles and other low lying woody plants, had been cleared, the bluebells returned naturally when the light was allowed to enter the tree filled floors.
On the day of our visit we caught a rare early warm day and despite this season’s slow Spring growth, the pollinators were out and about, with early bumble and mining bees active in and around the iconic naturalised pot bunkers.
“Grant and his team were praised for their work to restore and create habitats for pollinating insects, along with managing the environs around the course to promote natural ecology and biodiversity. ”
— 2024 GEA Operation Pollinator Award judge
Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator aims to support golf clubs and sports facilities to establish and manage areas of pollen and nectar rich wildflower habitat, that will provide essential food resources and nesting habitat for pollinators, including native bees, butterflies and other insects.
There is no cost and no prescriptive commitment – just the desire to enhance the ecological value of the managed turf areas for the benefit of biodiversity, the people and the players who use it.
Operation Pollinator brings together a community of turf managers to help each other and share their successes and experience. If you would like to find out more about Operation Pollinator and how your golf club or sports facility can participate please visit our website here – Operation Pollinator
Entries for the 2025 Golf Environment Awards are open now.
