Hoods Woods
Greys Green Golf Course is still often called The Dog Golf Course, as it all started in Dog Field on Greys Green Farm
Woodland Planting at Greys Green Farm
For some years the Ministry of Agriculture (then MAFF) and the Common Market (then EEC) had been trying to persuade farmers to do something with their land other than produce surplus crops, milk and meat by intensive (and environmentally harmful) methods
One of the initiatives was to encourage farmers to grow trees - both enhancing the landscape and putting right some of the damage done by generations of intensive farming
At Greys Green Farm, we undertook what was probably the largest private tree-planting scheme in the South of England. Since it was such a big scheme and was in the Chilterns AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), approval from the Local Planning Authority was required and this was duly obtained before planting commenced
The first trees were planted in 1995 and the last in 2002
Altogether, nearly 100 acres of trees have been planted at Greys Green Farm - with the aid of grants under the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Premium Woodland Scheme. The grants help with the initial planting and the first 15 years of maintenance of the trees
All the trees were planted by John Handy of J P Handy Forestry. You will note that our planting scheme gets a mention on John Handy's web site
Aerial view showing part of Hoods Woods
Environmental Benefits
As the new trees began to get established (and to become visible over the tree guards), so the environmental benefits began to emerge.
The rough grass between the trees, the nettles, brambles, thistles, self-seeded trees and other plants, in time provided a haven for wildlife such as the hitherto rare vole and greatly increased sightings of birds such as the skylark, a variety of owls, and finches of every description, including whole charms of golf-finches
Predators such as the buzzard, sparrowhawk and peregrine falcon are frequent visitors and the green and spotted woodpecker are both now quite common here
Please let us know if you spot any other plants or birds on the course
