PRESERVING PURDIS

In recent years Ipswich Golf Club has recognised its value as a site for wildlife in an increasingly urban environment. Although the main objective is to produce best conditions possible for golf on our courses, it is important to understand that successive committees have a secondary aim to achieve this in a manner that is sympathetic to the environment and to improving the various habitats within its boundaries.

The most important habitat is heathland. Only 15% of lowland heath that existed in the UK in the 1850s remains today. Suffolk golf courses have a quarter of the remaining heathland left in the county, so areas remaining in Ipswich are of local as well as national importance.

On this site, after years of decline, heathland is now being painstakingly restored to its former glory. Scrub trees and invading Bracken are being removed, allowing a mosaic of Gorse, Broom, acid grassland, Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) to grow back.

These areas host a wealth of rare wildlife, including the Silver-studded Blue butterfly (one of only eight colonies for this nationally scarce species in the county)for photo see the Warren Heath article, the protected Woodlark and numerous Common Lizards.

Existing areas of Heather and Gorse are maintained by rotational cutting to promote vigorous growth. In parallel with this management new areas are planted using seedlings cultivated in the club’s two polytunnels.

The centre of the course contains an extensive woodland area, divided into three main types: primary woodland, secondary woodland and wet woodland. The primary woodland has many fine specimens of Oak and Hornbeam. Holly, Birch and Rowan are also present along with an area of Hazel coppice currently being restored for wildlife such as Nightingales and wildflowers such as Bluebells.

Cutting through this woodland in several areas are ‘rides’, open grassy spots giving fine views of the decoy ponds from the golf course. These are good areas for wildflowers, attracting numerous butterflies and bees.

The wet woodlands contain areas of Willow and Alder, with an understorey of ferns and mosses. Wildlife abounds in this relatively undisturbed area and includes Great Spotted Woodpecker, foxes, Stag Beetle and the largest known colony of Noctule bats in Suffolk.

This central woodland area can be explored by using the two waymarked nature trails (with accompanying leaflets) that have been created.

The other habitat, wetland, can also be divided into three main areas: ponds, sedge fen and reedbed.

Of the ponds, the two larger ones in the centre of the site were old duck decoys, used for trapping ducks from 1646 until the 1920s, but are now used primarily for fishing. There are also other, smaller ponds scattered around the site, as well as the upper reaches of the Mill stream. All these areas are used by wildlife such as Kingfishers, dragonflies, damselflies and the nationally declining Water Vole.

The sedge fens are managed primarily for wildflowers, including Southern Marsh Orchids, being cut for hay in late summer.

Currently under restoration is an area of reedbed that has been invaded by Willow scrub. This is now being removed, allowing the reeds to flourish again. Already a Bittern has visited the area during recent winters, proving the value of this project and all conservation work undertaken around the golf course.

Neil Sherman, Conservation Officer, Ipswich Golf Club

(Ipswich Golf Club won the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association ‘Golf Environment Competition’ in 1995 and 2002)

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