Heather & heathland management

Bob Taylor Ecology Ltd was established in 2021 to serve the golfing industry in an ecological advisory capacity. A Consulting Ecologist with over 31 years’ experience, Bob is expert in applied habitat and species management, with a sound understanding of the needs of the game and the benefits that appropriate management can bring to the game of golf.

Bob works across the industry, often with recognised golf course architects. He is an accredited verifier for the GEO Foundation and is retained by The R&A as their preferred Ecological Adviser to The Open.

Bob’s work has demonstrated that considering wildlife and the habitats on golf courses can run in parallel and moreover is an asset. Today management can be used to reduce frustration of slow play and lost balls. It can deliver real and tangible health benefits. Over the last 30 years, for so many golf clubs, holistic management has become part of their routine management.

Sophie Olejnik is an ecological consultant specialising in golf course management for nature conservation. She has worked in the industry for over nine years honing her skills in habitat management for protected and other notable species across golf courses around the UK to ensure that golf courses continue to support nature. Working closely with Bob Taylor, Sophie has provided consultancy advice to the R&A across all Open Championship and the AIG Women’s Open venues and has most recently been undertaking a range of surveys to quantify the biodiversity value of 27 golf courses as part of a five year project to show how golf is good for nature.