Golf courses can often provide very important areas of habitat for a large diversity of flora and fauna. In particular, a great number of bird species are reliant on the nesting and breeding sanctuaries provided by the out of play areas on golf courses. Actively managing such habitats in order to enhance biodiversity is recognised as one of golf’s key contributions towards protecting the natural environment; an excellent way to demonstrate an on-going commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
To raise awareness of the contributions which well-managed golf courses can offer to birdlife throughout Great Britain and Ireland, The R&A and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have published a book dedicated to the 
subject. ‘Birds and golf courses: a guide to habitat management’ outlines the practical steps which can be taken across a range of different types of golf course in order to enhance their value for birdlife. The book also focuses on a number of specific species which will directly benefit from such management work. The move comes amidst an alarming rate of decline in populations of European farmland birds. Species such as the Skylark (Alauda arvensis) and Yellowhammer (Emberiza citronella) – both of which have declined rapidly in number in the UK and are now listed as Red List species – can often be found within the sheltered habitats provided by well-managed golf courses.
‘Birds and golf courses: a guide to habitat management’ is a comprehensive information resource for maximising the value of your golf course for birdlife. The publication will be of value to golf courses throughout GB&I and mainland Europe and is available to purchase now from The R&A Shop, priced £7.99 plus postage and packing.