The Alcon Blue butterfly returns

A rare butterfly not seen in decades. Seventy wildflower species thriving across 40 hectares. And a golf course that's become a blueprint for integrating sport with conservation.

The latest episode of Syngenta Golf's sustainability docuseries The Green Report takes viewers inside Golf & Country Club Zürich, where an ambitious rewilding project has created the largest native biodiversity area in its municipality and brought the elusive Alcon Blue butterfly back from the brink.

Following a major redevelopment in the late 2010s, Golf & Country Club Zürich transformed its landscape: half of the 80-hectare site is now dedicated to native habitats, carefully monitored year-round to track species recovery and ecosystem health.

The results have exceeded expectations. More than 70 wildflower species now flourish across the property, including the rare Marsh Gentian, a plant that has triggered the return of the Alcon Blue butterfly, one of Europe's most threatened species.

In this episode, The Green Report host Gary Firkins meets the team behind the transformation: course manager Yannick Weber, greenkeeper Martin Hügli, and sustainability consultant Alba Stamm.

“What we have achieved together, we are both very proud of,” Weber said. “Those species would not exist if we were not working closely together.”

The biodiversity initiatives extend beyond wildflowers. Greenkeeper Martin Hügli has engineered dedicated nesting areas along the riverbank, attracting bird species including the vibrant Kingfisher and White-throated Dipper, both of which are indicators of pristine water quality and healthy ecosystems.

Beyond conservation, the club is pioneering community engagement around environmental stewardship.

Course manager Yannick Weber explains in the episode how Golf & Country Club Zürich hosts public events alongside consultant biologists, educating local residents on the significance of native areas and their role in the wider ecosystem.

“Golf & Country Club Zürich highlights the extraordinary value of out-of-play areas in fostering thriving habitats for flora and fauna,” Syngenta global head of marketing for turf and landscape Mark Birchmore said.

“They're not only enhancing the playing experience and visual appearance, the course is now integrated with a flourishing ecosystem, creating a powerful story the club can share with members, stakeholders, and the broader community.

“This initiative complements the work we have done for many years around the world with Operation Pollinator. It shows that golf courses are hugely valuable habitats in a rapidly urbanizing landscape.”

Episode 4 of The Green Report is free to watch for all golf industry professionals, environmental stakeholders, and enthusiasts.