Aspire to Golf - Family Golf Centre

Situated on a flood plain adjacent to the River Dee, with special area status, the Family Golf Centre incorporates a Driving Range and short game, putting and some golf holes.

The area is one of agricultural fields bordered by woodland to the south and the River Dee to the North and West. Astell Associates investigated the River Dee ecology (salmon and fresh water mussels) and recorded the river bank vegetation. The woodland was then surveyed and a ten year management proposed produced.

Astell Associates worked with a golf course design company, Team Niblick, to produce an ecological landscape design and management proposal. Liaison with Aberdeenshire South Planning Department, and Aberdeenshire Environmental Planning Department enabled a detailed design to be produced and implemented.

Knowledge of badgers and barn owls in the area added important dimensions to the scheme, enabling construction procedures to be implemented to protect these and other importand species.