On 12th November 2024, by Martin
Cold Ashby Golf Centre nominated for England Golf Sustainability Award!
We are delighted to have been recognised for our sustainability and Bio-Diversity efforts by England Golf, and are nominated for the England Golf 2025 Awards!
Cold Ashby Golf Centre is an 18-hole parkland course based within the Northampton Uplands. The golf course has been in existence since 1974 and has undergone several alterations since then within a phased approach which is considerate to the current environmental performance and members.
The centre is owned by its members, the golf course is regarded as the key asset and as a result, sustainability is recognised as an opportunity to ensure the longevity of the site. Sustainability is therefore a top priority in Cold Ashby’s view to make the centre efficient, profitable and socially inclusive, developing a successful business.
EG recognise that Biodiversity is an area of strength for CAGC, we are fortunate to have the support and guidance of one of our members who is a retired landscape and golf course architect, who contributes to the skills of our Green Keeping team The best outcomes for flora and fauna on our course are always considered and have been integrated into our course development plans.
We acknowledge that the site is not only an opportunity to play golf, but also to create a home for wildlife. As a result of consultation with, and advice from, the specialist ecological Northamptonshire County Recorders for plants, animals, invertebrates, birds and bats, different species and habitats are being protected and encouraged. Consequently, staff use their knowledge to manage and where available, increase biodiversity on the course. During these discussions and ecological recording, a rare plant species was discovered on the course – one which was previously considered extinct in the county.
The course also features wetland habitats, including lakes, ponds, streams, reed bed areas, and wet grassland. The site lies at the top of the river Avon catchment, and following discussions with Severn Trent, these wetland features with leaky log barriers are slowing the flow of surface water drainage before it runs off-site. Therefore, this natural flood management benefits neighbouring landowners and the flood capacity of the Avon catchment. The wetland habitats are managed through cutting and clearing material to maintain a low nutrient area suitable for a wide variety of plant species.
Watch this space for more details of how we do with our nomination!