Hanbury Manor Goes Green

Hanbury Manor has implemented a variety of projects in several environmental areas, and the hotel is now applying to become a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

This exemplary distinction is an international recognition of environmental excellence bestowed on organisations that are taking a leadership role in conservation. Our aim is to achieve full certification in early 2010.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses helps to enhance wildlife habitats and protect natural resources for the benefit of people, wildlife and the game of golf. The program is designed to give golf course managers the information and guidance they need to implement stewardship projects and receive recognition for their efforts.

The Golf Program is part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System. It is administered by Audubon International, a non-profit environmental organisation that spearheads education and conservation assistance programs that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability.

The Program addresses five key environmental quality areas: Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use, Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management and Outreach and Education.

A great area of success has been the naturalisation of shorelines in lakes and streams, particularly the Lake on hole 6 and Stream on hole 3. We have seen an increase in wildlife activity in these areas, including insects such as Dragonflies and Butterflies, and birds taking up permanent residency and raising young.

Further successes have included the introduction of supplemental structures such as log/brush piles and nest boxes. After consulting the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 16 boxes have been erected throughout the estate at varying heights and with varying size entrance holes to attract different species. Log/Brush piles have been included in our woodland management and where possible we have left limbs where they have fallen, all of which has provided good wildlife habitats.
In out of play areas leaf litter has been left and young trees and herbaceous plants have been encouraged.

Native trees are also planted on the golf course in a rolling program; these are planted as eventual replacements for much older established trees to reduce the impact on the playability of the course in the case of any losses.