Nature and Environment

Österlens Golf Club has been awarded GEO certification (golf's international environmental certification system) which is systematically followed up in a structured manner together with the club's management.

The club's environmental work therefore meets high international standards and increases the club's attraction value and positions the club as a conscious and responsible environmental and social actor. We are continuously working to preserve and develop biodiversity, enhance the aesthetic experience and achieve an even more active golf environment on Djupadal and Lilla Vik. The work is permeated by an ecological mindset and collaboration with local actors and authorities. We develop and care for the natural values ​​of the golf courses. The environmental committee works with inventories of plants and animals, follow-ups and with developed maintenance plans. New plantings and removal of vegetation are completed in collaboration with the course committee and course manager. We care for the natural land of the courses from an ecological perspective, e.g. sheep pastures, birdhouses and insect hotels. Together with external stakeholders, we start projects where golf activities, nature experiences and leisure activities are combined for schools and the active outdoor life. To increase the members' understanding and commitment to ecology, animals, plants and nature, club evenings, field trips and photo exhibitions are arranged.

Cuckoo migrations Djupadal May 19 and Lilla Vik May 26, 2026.

Rosefinch, barn owl, black-capped chickadee, nightingale, wren, Kentish tern and warbler? We hope to hear and see these and many more birds as they have moved here and started to nest for the season!

Meeting on May 19th at the Clubhouse Djupadal at 07:00 and the same time at Lilla Vik on May 26 at the machinery hall. No registration is necessary – just show up! Bring binoculars and clothes for the weather as it can be a bit chilly in May. Preferably a thermos of hot coffee and a sandwich would be nice at halftime.

The hike is expected to be completed by 10:00 AM.

A warm welcome from the “Bird Group”

Lars-Martin Grewin, Per Strömqvist, Hans Ljungberg and Rolf Lindskog

KESTRELS AND HEATHERS

The kestrel hovers over the paths, focusing on a small vole down on the ground among protected and rare heath flowers. A bird and a plant that have recently become more numerous around Djupadal and Lilla Vik.

The club works concretely with sustainability and biodiversity.

  • Landscape maintenance
  • Flora and fauna and promotion of biodiversity
  • Waste, sorting, composting and disposal of environmentally hazardous waste
  • Energy supply, energy use
  • Emissions to air and participation in reducing the greenhouse effect
  • Fertilization
  • Water supply
  • The ponds

For those of you who are interested, we have linked to further information about the club's work.
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Inventory of insects, birds and frogs
GEO certification
Olle Kvarnbäck's "Inventory of Österlen"GK"
Magnus Trollestad's "Inventory of the Dams"
Simrishamn Environmental Prize
Nomination for the Golf Environmental Award

NATURE CONSERVATION SPECIES AT ÖSTERLENS GOLF CLUB

Conservation species is a collective term for species that need attention in nature conservation; species that are worth extra protection, either by being of particular importance themselves or by pointing out (indicating) areas or habitats that are particularly important from a nature conservation perspective. The term includes red-listed species, protected species and those listed in the EU's species and habitats directives, signal species (indicating species richness), responsible species (those that have a large proportion of their population in Sweden), and key species (species that support species communities).

Heather flowers, red-listed as vulnerable (VU), protected – Several premises on Djupadal and one two at Lilla Vik
Back sip, red listed as vulnerable (VU), protected – Two locations at Lilla Vik (holes 15 and 14?)
Golden Viva, protected.
Saint Peter's keys, protected – Djupadal, by the ponds.
Tooth root, a signal species for a forest environment worthy of protection – In the biotope-protected noble leaf grove at Lilla Vik

Lesser Bluewing, red listed as near threatened (NT), indicator species – occurs sparingly on Djupadal, in areas with goat herding
Meadow net butterfly, red listed as near threatened (NT), indicator species – one observation on Djupadal 2019. Rare, but perhaps overlooked.
Rattlesnake, red-listed as near threatened (NT) – one observation on Djupadal 2018. Rare and hard to see.
Six-spotted bastard heater, (NT) – occurs sparingly to abundantly on Djupadal in July-August, often on field trips.
Smaller purpura meter (NT), indicator species – diurnal moth that was seen in several specimens in June 2019 at Djupadal and probably has a stable population.

Lip sting, red listed as near threatened (NT) – Occurs behind the 18th green on Djupadal. Sand-living.
Small fibblebee, indicator species – noted in 2013 during an inventory at Djupadal. Not seen since then but probably still occurs. Tied to brooches.

Emerald trap beetle (Cryptocephalus sericeus), indicator species – Djupadal, on brooches and field turbans.

Tree frog, protected – During the 2013 inventory, tree frogs played both on Djupadal and Lilla Vik (sparsely). Since then they have disappeared from Lilla Vik (?) but remain in smaller numbers on Djupadal.
Bell frog, protected – A game in dust 5 on Djupadal 2013.
Long-legged frog, red listed as vulnerable (VU), protected – 100 lumps of roe were reported on Artpoprtalen from the dams at Djupadal 2015, from a reliable source.
Common frog, protected – Occurs sparingly both on Djupadal and Little Vik
Greater newt, protected – An observation in Damm 4 on Djupadal 2014. Not seen since.

Small dip, protected – Breeds regularly in pond 6 (the large pond) on Djupadal
Grey-chinned dipper, protected – breeding regularly since 2014 in pond 6, Djupadal.
Songlark, red listed (NT) – breeds regularly with a few pairs on both Djupadal as Lilla Vik. During the 2013 inventory, 4-5 pairs were noted on Djupadal and 3 couples at Lilla Vik.
Stare, red-listed (VU) – Breeds with about 10 pairs on each course, in hollow trees and in tree hollows. Provides benefits on the golf course by eating insect larvae (e.g. harkran larvae) that can damage the grass roots on greens and fairways.
Yellow-hammer, red listed (VU) – breeds with a few pairs on the forest edge Djupadal. Missing during the 2017 inventory at Lilla Vik.
Rosefinch, red listed (VU) – Sings regularly on the shoreline at Lilla Vik
Bush Warbler, red listed (NT) – Seen during breeding season with a few pairs at Lilla Vik.
Yellow-hemp, red listed (VU) – Noted in 2019 on Djupadal, around the clubhouse. Probably nests near the course.
Happy, protected and internationally red listed (NT) – Forages daily over both golf courses. Probably breeds in nearby forest areas.

Dormouse – seen in the grove at hole 6 Lilla Vik by course workers about ten years ago. Also reported from Rörums fur, but not in connection with Djupadal still so far.