I am so excited that another golf club has committed to sustainability and environmental protection by joining the Operation Pollinator program. So kudos to Farleigh Golf Club.
Back in January, I have already written about Farleigh Golf Club joining Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator program:
As part of the plans, the club will enhance its seventh hole on the red loop and third on the blue to provide more outstanding habitats and food sources for a range of native bees and other pollinating insects across its golf courses.
Now let’s see what they were able to realize from their promises and plans. What is important to understand:
“Studies suggest crop production would decline by around 5% in higher income countries, and 8% at low-to-middle incomes if pollinator insects vanished.” Source: Our World in Data
Farleign Golf Club – Syngenta‘s Operation Pollinator program
The areas of growth around the seventh hole on the red loop and the third on the blue are now blooming and complete the first step of the scheme. The second stage will see further development and plantation across other areas of the course throughout the winter.
In total, Farleigh’s commitment to the program will see it move towards establishing a minimum of 0.5 hectares of new wildflower habitat around the golf course as it looks to provide more outstanding habitats and food sources for a range of native bees and other pollinating insects.
While also improving the visual appeal and aesthetics of the stunning John Jacobs-designed course, which can be played as three different 18-hole loops, the club also wants to be a part of the long-term solution to maintain ecological biodiversity.
In June I asked a Hungarian club manager whether the new flower beds are for helping/saving the pollinators or make their golf course more colorful. The answer was to make it more colorful. They inadvertently contributed to saving the local pollinators.
Research-driven trials have continuously proven that the creation of even small areas of dedicated habitat can significantly increase numbers of pollinating insects.
Bumblebee numbers are continuing to decline, with some UK species on the verge of extinction. And these pollinating bees make up a fundamental part of the natural ecosystem with their pollination of food crops.
With golf courses across the UK occupying approximately 150,000 hectares of land, and with Farleigh set amongst 350 acres of picturesque countryside in the North Surrey Downs, they can play a vital role in providing pockets of sanctuary for wildlife.
James Ibbetson, Farleigh’s general manager, said:
“By creating the best possible habitat for them to continue their essential cycling of nutrients, pollination, dispersion of seeds, as well as maintaining soil structure and fertility, all of which is beneficial to the world and the golf course.
We’re doing our bit to hopefully prevent the extinction of some of our critical pollinating insects, such as bumblebees, and continue the growth of grass and crops.”
Managemement of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is gaining momentum
How many of you have noticed that there is a growing number of companies who now consider ESG as an integral part of their overall business strategy. 2020 saw a record size of capital investment in ESG.
I am expecting investors will continue to be interested in ESG topics. Investment in renewable energy and uptake of low carbon products will continue to rise in the future.