The golf links at Littlehampton is situated on and adjacent to the West Beach Local Nature Reserve, a complex of sand dunes on the west side of the mouth of the river Arun.
Sand dunes are one of the most ecologically important habitats in the UK. This is partly because dunes contain unique and rare habitats, not found anywhere else, and the south coast only has a few. At West Beach, Littlehampton we are fortunate to have nationally scarce species growing and living in our dunes. This is why Natural England have designated it as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with two small fenced-off areas to the south of the course to give wildlife the best chance of avoiding disturbance.
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The dune system supports a large variety of grasses and wildflowers including sand catchfly, sand sedge and viper’s bugloss as well as evening primrose and a variety of orchids. In the spring, the dunes are often covered in a blue haze of early ‘forget-me-not’ Myosotis ramossisima. Sea Holly with its striking silvery blue leaves are present each summer, 400 years ago in Elizabethan times, its flowers were used as an aphrodisiac! Sea Thrift makes an appearance in April, loving our well-drained, sandy soil, and provides nectar for a wide range of insects that make Littlehampton their home.
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In addition to SSSI area, the course is also part of the ‘Clymping Gap’, one of the last undeveloped sites along the coast between Bognor & Littlehampton, which make it a perfect haven for many varieties of birdlife, over 60 species were recorded in 2024. Although not a typical favourite of a golfer searching for a lost ball, the Common Gorse that is around the course is a vital part of the local wildlife ecosystem. Look out for its flowers in its peak flowering time of April and May. Several bird species take shelter in gorse bushes as they are so dense and provide great protection during harsh weather. Gorse flowers are a good source of nectar for bees and butterflies. As gorse’s flowers are so fragrant, and edible, they are the perfect addition to salads or steeped in fruit tea.
The shrubs to the right of the 17th & 4th holes, seen cowering over due to the prevailing wind are Cotoneaster, a variety of Rose. It’s prolific red berries in Autumn, together with its dense structure offer food & shelter from the elements. In return the birds & wildlife help it to propagate through seed dissemination.
Bordering the rife and at some of the drainage ponds, for example behind the 8th tee, reedbeds offer wildlife a transitional habitat between the coast and land where they are safe & secure. It creates vital breeding grounds & also roosting & feeding sites for many migratory species.
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Particular birdlife highlights are several overwintering waders including sanderlings and sandpipers, as well as kestrels and buzzards which hover over the dunes searching for prey. In the spring, Meadow pipits (On the RSPB Amber Concern list) nest on the ground, concealed by the dune marram grass, and may often be seen perched on the fence posts which separate the course from the beach. Linnet’s are another threatened species in the UK, numbers falling +50% in the last decades, but we are fortunate to have a thriving colony, upwards of 100 birds often seen together around the gorse by the 3rd & 4th tees. Whitethroats can be seen in the summer months, over winter they migrate to Africa south of the Sahara! Chiffchaffs are a wonderful resident, blessed with no local noise pollution from roads on our course, you can listen for the song which gives it its name, no other warbler makes that chiff-chaffing tune. On top of this, Little Egrets and Grey Herons are often to be found hunting in the Rife. Perhaps our rarest sighting has been the Dartford Warbler, around the 2nd tee area. Another bird on the RSPB Amber watch list, it nearly went extinct due to loss of habitat. They particularly like the cover our Gorse bushes provide.
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We are proud of the unique and diverse environment Littlehampton Golf Club provides, supporting a wealth of wildlife, insects and plants and offering our golfers an experience not found on many courses in the UK. Our members are passionate about supporting this local environment, by protecting the vegetation & foliage, and keeping traffic & movement in the SSSI areas to a minimum (these are marked with blue posts on the course). Several enthusiastic members run a wildlife sightings blackboard and publish a newsletter periodically, to keep you informed on the nature around you. We also do volunteer litter picks to keep the area as nature intended, so please play your part and use the rubbish & re-cycling bins stationed at different points of the course.