Photographs taken from 2023, showing how the former golf course is rewilding:

25th July, 2023:

The west side of the former golf course, showing how the grass is growing up, with mown paths. Beyond is the regularly mown 'Oak Tree Field', which was not part of the golf course. Bill Grange.

 25th July, 2023

Yarrow, growing around the edge of a former bunker. Bill Grange

 25th July, 2023

Lesser Stichwort. Bill Grange

25th July, 2023

Small Skipper Butterfly on Creeping Thistle. The rewilding has already been very beneficial to butterflies, as well as many other insect species. Bill Grange

 25th July, 2023

Small White Butterfly

 25th July, 2023

A species of hoverfly, Syrphus ribesi

Many species of hoverfly, like this one, have larvae - in the form of maggots -  which feed on aphids (greenfly and blackfly), while the adult feeds on nectar and ollen. Most hoverflies are very valuable pollinators.

The fly is feeding from Common Ragwort, which has established sporadically on the former golf course. This is an immensley important plant for pollinating insects but is the subject of much adverse publicity becasue of its poisonous properties. However, ragwort is only ia danger to cattle and horses if it is incorporated into hay, as animals won't eat standing ragwort. Even then, a huge amount has to be consumed to produce ill effects.