Difference between Parkland and Heathland

[BCowan]

''The heath refers to areas that grow heather. These areas are quite rare  in the UK but the geology and the way they behave follows a similar pattern. The soils are basically always acidic but they can range from silty to sandy, the soil is typically 3.5-6.0 ph never highe. Erica carnea will colonise in the thin infertile soils, its also good for a number of plants and the trees which we tend to like for golf courses (those that dont produce big leaves) Birch, Pine and Oak will all do well. Heaths lend themselves to being great for golf by default as linksland they are not good for producing great crops, not much likes ph levels in the threes or fours except finely bladed fescues and impoversish plants. Parkland by contrast could be on any soil and generally refers to trees, in theory Parkland could be on heathland if left uncontrolled, aka Sunningdale so your not so far wrong really, but as has already been said it is all about the soil.''- Adrian Stiff

I thought the below thread was a very good one.  It possibly was lost during the crash and thought it deserved another gander.  discuss if you like

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=56942.0

[Philip Spogard]

I would say Wentworth is a better example of a course which has almost lost all its heathland defining characteristics.

Great to see that most Surrey and Berkshire clubs are making an effort to strengthen their heathland character.

[Jon Wiggett]

Philip,

Wentworth is possibly the best example of how badly directed commercialisation can completely ruin what was a classic course. Even as recently as the late 1980s it was a wonderful course to play but now it is just another misplaced, overpriced venue still milking its past glory.

Jon

[Josh Stevens]

Most of the heathland courses have lost much of their character due to tree planting despite retaining the heather.  Exceptions I guess are Walton and Hankley which have not been overplanted

Oh, what Hankley could be if they let a decent GCA in there!!!

[Duncan Cheslett]

I was delighted to discover the other day that our local authority's official designation of the land that Reddish Vale GC occupies is 'Remnant Heathland'. Apparently the entire surrounding area was heathland 100 years ago, all but our bit having since been developed into a huge council estate and adjoining industrial area. Fortunately, virtually none of it is visible from the course.

We do have a bit of heather and a few gorse bushes so not all the heathland characteristics have been lost. We just need to get rid of the silver birches now and plant some Scots Pines.

Welcome to Reddish Vale - possibly the only heathland course in Greater Manchester!  

[Jim_Coleman]

    Am I crazy?  Merion has a heathland feel to me. 

[Adam Lawrence]

Most of the heathland courses have lost much of their character due to tree planting despite retaining the heather.  Exceptions I guess are Walton and Hankley which have not been overplanted

Oh, what Hankley could be if they let a decent GCA in there!!!

I don't think it is over planting in most cases, though doubtless there are exceptions. Mostly I think it is a case of failing to remove trees as they grow. Heath is a manmade landscape, created by prehistoric farmers clearing areas for their flocks. It has to be maintained; when it was heavily grazed by sheep and cattle, the animals did that. Now, because much of the lowland heath is in suburban areas and has been divided into islands, it is very rarely grazed to a serious extent (there are deer, but they can't keep up). Hence, as I once wrote in an article, 'today, greenkeepers have to take on the roles of sheep and cattle'.

[Paul Gray]

Can we just remember that pine does actually grow quite naturally on those soils and sites which we commonly consider to be heath. It is fair to say that many heathland courses are far more tree lined now than was ever the case in their original design format but that isn't universally true. Remember that Swinley, for example, went through a huge tree clearing program when Colt first created the course.

[Sean_A]

Paul

Lets just say Swinley is more tree lined than Colt designed    Look at old pix and this is qute clear.  I suspect the same is true for New Zealand as I think it was the first heathland course cut through trees.  It could use a fair haircut these days. 

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Heaths and trees - I understand tree etc clearance on heathland areas isn't just animal grazing related. Locals removed trees for firewood, fencing, all sorts of things, especially during wartime.
atb

[Paul Gray]

Sean,

Undoubtedly. I was just trying to make the point that trees are not an alien invader on a heathland. Of course, an inability to cut them back and one per dead member for a century and, oh dear.