More than 600 trees have been planted on golf courses all over the UK as a result of Headland Amenity’s initiative designed to offset the company’s carbon footprint.
Following a prize draw, the brain-child of Headland’s operations director Mark De Ath, which took place during Harrogate Week, nine course managers won 70 odd whips each, which were delivered in February and are now in the ground.
Kerr Rowan, course manager of The Carrick Golf Course in Scotland has used his trees around the greenkeeping sheds so that in time they will create a screen. “This is a beautiful course with great views over Loch Lomond,” he says. “We put the trees in two months ago and they’re doing well.”
Tony Baxby, in charge of the course at Harrogate Golf Club planted his mixture of alders, maple and wild cherry as soon as they arrived. “I’ve used them in five or six different areas on the course and only lost two or three,” he says. “You always lose some and that’s not bad.”
Kevin Unsworth, course manager at the Royal Winchester Golf Club in Hampshire is taking no chances. “We’ve got some spare ground here so I’ve created a little tree nursery,” he explains. “They’re quite small and I want to put them in our conservation area. We clear it once a year and if I can get this done in the autumn that would be the best time to plant them in their permanent positions. They’ll be a bit bigger by then; the ground will be clear and the soil still warm.
The other winners are Steve McAdams, course manager at Lytham Green Drive, Lytham St Annes, Chris Webb, course manager at Mid Yorks Golf Club, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, Cedrick Gough, course manager at Broadway Golf Club in Worcestershire, Jeff Dickinson, course manager at Springwater Golf Club in Nottingham, Rhys Thomas, course manager at South Staffs Gold Club in Wolverhampton and Roger Shaw, course manager at Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club in Carrville Co. Durham. “It’s a bit like sending coals to Newcastle for us,” he says, “considering we planted 32 acres of trees when the course was built.” Nevertheless, Roger’s new trees are all in place, the majority on the right of the 18th hole.
Headland embarked on this initiative following calculations of the company’s annual CO2 emissions.
Headland Amenity www.headlandamenity.co.uk