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When it comes to conservation, being slightly rough around the edges makes all the difference for local wildlife. Through sensitive habitat management and targeted conservation work, we're beginning to see the rewards, with an increasing variety of species making the most of the club's rough grassland, ponds and hedgerows.

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Barn Owls are specialist hunters of Field Voles and depend on species-rich rough grassland to hunt successfully. We have five Barn Owl boxes across the course, all of which were cleaned out over the winter. Last summer, a breeding attempt failed when a pair became trapped and sadly perished, beneath a large Jackdaw nest built above them. Fortunately, thanks to plentiful foraging habitat and several alternative nest sites, this spring a different pair successfully raised three healthy chicks in a low pollard Oak beside the course. This is particularly encouraging, as it suggests a new pair has now occupied what was an unused territory. Kestrels are also regular visitors, often seen hovering over the rough in search of prey, while Jackdaws successfully fledged young from several of the remaining nest boxes.

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The scrub-rich, reed-fringed pond margins continue to support an impressive range of wildlife. Reed Warblers were recorded singing throughout the spring, while a pair of Little Owls have once again been observed at the eastern end of the course. Little Owls thrive in mixed farmland, benefiting from mature trees with nesting cavities alongside grazed or closely mown grassland where they hunt beetles, insects and small mammals. Our grasslands are also supporting Skylarks, one of Britain's most iconic farmland birds, famous for their cascading song delivered high above the fields. Delaying cutting through the breeding season allows adults to forage successfully and gives chicks the best chance of fledging.

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The club's ponds are proving equally valuable. Good numbers of Emperor Dragonflies have been recorded alongside Brown, Migrant and Green-eyed Hawkers, as well as several species of damselfly. Two pairs of Little Grebe, often affectionately known as 'Dabchicks', successfully raised chicks on both the pond by the 8th hole and the lake by the 18th. Grass Snakes have also been seen swimming and basking around the ponds, taking advantage of the surrounding rough grassland. If you're lucky enough to spot one of these beautifully patterned native reptiles, rest assured they're completely harmless and non-venomous, every sighting is one to savour.

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Last year we introduced a supplementary feeding station to support Turtle Doves, one of the UK's fastest-declining birds, whose population has fallen by 98% since the 1970s. Although we haven't recorded Turtle Doves using the feeding area this year, many other declining farmland birds, including Stock Dove, Yellowhammer and Linnet, continue to benefit from the additional seed. With Turtle Doves breeding only a few miles from Halesworth Golf, the combination of mature hedgerows, open water and this supplementary food source continues to provide excellent opportunities for this remarkable summer migrant. We are hopeful that our efforts will pay off in time! 

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This winter we'll be installing additional woodland nest boxes in quieter parts of the course to support Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Wren, alongside new boxes for Little Owl and Kestrel. This summer we've also recorded Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Dunnock and both Common and Lesser Whitethroat among the bushy hedgerows surrounding the course. These records remind us of the value of the golf course's scrubby habitats within the wider landscape, providing important nesting and feeding opportunities for a wide range of species.

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At a nearby site only a few hundred metres away, we've recorded two breeding pairs of Nightingale alongside several pairs of the elusive Garden Warbler and a singing male Cuckoo. We are hoping that these migratory species return safely next year along with this year’s chicks and establish new territories on or close to the course. Every new wildlife record is another encouraging sign that thoughtful habitat management is creating the conditions needed for nature to flourish. As the old saying goes, build it and they will come!

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Keep your eyes and ears open while you're out on the course - we'd love to hear about anything interesting you spot. Please send your wildlife sightings to harry.read@wildernessreserve.com. Thank you!