• Outdoors Outdoors

Redditor's viral post shows how their local golf course is being 'rewilded': 'The best possible use of that space'

The 120,000-square-meter space will be combined with surrounding nature reserves to support plants, wildlife, and pollinators.

Rewilding Golf ball

In a viral Reddit post, one user shared how their former local golf course is being "rewilded" — as in, returned to its natural state of being.  

The 120,000-square-meter space will be combined with surrounding nature reserves to support plants, wildlife, and pollinators

Instead of serving as a golf course, the area will be converted into grasslands and woodlands. But that doesn't mean it'll be off-limits to visitors. In fact, there will be trails and vistas throughout the space so people can still fully enjoy the outdoor setting.

The century-old Pewit Golf Course in Ilkeston, England closed earlier this year. As many Reddit commenters noted, the move will help wildlife, local pollinators, and plants. 

It will also help our overheating planet. The rewilding will improve the quality of the soil, giving it the ability to absorb more harmful carbon pollution, which is responsible for increasing temperatures and extreme natural disasters. 

The commenters on the post were highly supportive of the move with one saying: 

"Aww yeah! My local one is also being rewilded, with the added bonus of some dense affordable housing (apartments). Literally the best possible use of that space!"

Another user with a similar story (and the most-liked comment) said: 

"I know some will have a kitten over us making bike trails but they are WAY less impactful on the environment and do not require any of the watering that the golf course took up. No fertilizers or pesticides either. A great way to get the kids away from the video games and keep them healthy too."

Clearly, there's an appetite for rewilding large outdoor recreational spaces like golf courses. And while this doesn't mean all golf courses need to go, it shows that communities can be thoughtful when planning to build new developments.

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