Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Barnehurst Golf Course
Borough: Bexley
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 27.34 ha

Description

Barnehurst Golf Course is a sizeable site with a number of wildlife habitats, including woodland, flower-rich grassland and scattered trees. The site is accessible to the public, but visitors should beware of golf balls, and take care not to interfere with golf activities.

Wildlife

The site contains a number of wildlife habitats, including small areas of potentially ancient woodland and scattered trees. The roughs comprise fairly flower-rich grassland, some of which is acidic. In a wildlife area to the north of the golf course is further acid grassland with a couple of bushes of gorse. Subterranean clover and common stork's-bill, which are rare in London, are found on the golf course, along with commoner wild flowers such as common knapweed and wild onion, with scattered scrub of broom. Daubenton's bats roost in some of the old trees, and breeding birds include blackcap, whitethroat and green and great spotted woodpeckers. The site supports an excellent range of butterflies, including green, white-letter and purple hairstreaks and small heath. Hawker and common darter dragonflies have been recorded in the wildlife area.

Facilities

Golf
Bumblebee on thistlehead © Jason Gallier

Bumblebee on thistlehead © Jason Gallier

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More information on GiGL’s SINC dataset can be found here.

Additional information, including other site designations and species recorded onsite and nearby, can be provided in community and client data search reports. Request information here.