These habitats are under threat in Suffolk and tree planting would destroy them. There have been some very unfortunate instances of non native or 'exotic' trees and even old Christmas trees being planted on commons which have not only degraded the value of the common for wildlife but have also 'suburbanised' the rural landscape. A. Legally, no activity may interfere with the commoners rights and this includes golfing. There is no right to carry out other activities which may accompany the maintenance of golf courses such as cutting grass, fertilising, reseeding, erection of teeing off mounds etc. However permission may be granted by the owners as long as the activities will not interfere with commoners rights.
Golf clubs established on commons have no right to exclude commoners grazing animals.
Golf courses can also detract from the rural character of the landscape and on commons where the public have legal right of access golf can impede this right. Some commons already are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest by the Government agency 'English Nature'. Others may be considered of major importance for nature conservation and therefore will have been included on the Suffolk Wildlife Trust's County Wildlife Sites register which is used to help Local Authorities with their planning control work. If the owners and common right holders agree to creating a conservation area on the common and you have the skills and resources available to manage it to maintain the habitat, there is no reason why you should not go ahead. Just one word of caution though, some people think of conservation as being 'let nature takes its course'.