For the love of conservation
The love of conservation can develop at a young age or later in life. For deputy greenkeeper at Bamburgh Castle Golf Club Mark Linsley, it was the former.
Mark has always shown a passion for the outdoors and wildlife. He explained where that admiration came from:
The early days
“I am keen on my photography, and that ties in with my love for wildlife and conservation. It seems to go hand in hand — which is nice when you work in a job that is predominantly outdoors. I always used to go out with my dad, looking at wildlife and exploring the outdoors, so I think it was something I enjoyed from quite a young age.”
Despite golf maintenance coming first, conservation is always in the back of his mind: “Greenkeeping and nature work hand in hand. We work in an environment where wildlife can thrive. Growing out the odd rough patch or allowing gorse to regenerate won’t interfere with golf - but it might add a habitat for wildlife.”
Teamwork at Bamburgh
Under the guidance of Head Greenkeeper Gareth Pearson, the team at Bamburgh Castle Golf Club has always implemented conservation and wildlife projects. Mark has taken this further since joining a few years ago:
“The club has always had a policy of carrying out conservation projects. That aligned with what I wanted to do on the golf course. The rough management and gorse management we’ve been working on ties into that. We only cut the rough twice a year and rake it once - it helps thin out the grasses and allows the wildflowers to thrive.”
Mark also highlighted the importance of weather conditions in supporting conservation work: “We’ve been lucky. Up here on the Northeast coast, we’ve had very little rain through the winter months. It hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as previous years, which has allowed us to cut areas we couldn’t get to last year.”
The little things
For those considering conservation projects, Mark recommends starting small: “I wouldn’t begin with something massive. Talk to the club and the head greenkeeper and discuss small projects you have in mind. Even if you can only do something minor, it will help. For example, areas around a tee or green that lack colour - consider planting some wildflowers. Every little bit helps.”
“Cut the rough in the right places and keep protected areas marked. The members and staff know where they shouldn’t drive or cut, and that’s because we’ve got orchids, primroses, and bluebells growing in the summer - we want them to thrive.”
Members' perspective
With many golf clubs going green, it would be surprising if members didn’t understand the team’s efforts at Bamburgh. Mark explains: “A lot of golf clubs around the UK have introduced sustainability and conservation initiatives. You’ll always get a few moans about the course, but we’re doing what we can for the environment - and that’s very important.”
“With the amount of wildlife, flowers, and other features we have here, it’s hard for members not to notice. It brings a new element to the course. We often have local bird specialists visiting, and I know someone who’s writing a book about the wildlife on the course.”