Deer cull at RHS Garden Bridgewater met with 'horror and sadness'

The Royal Horticultural Society confirmed "a small number of roe deer" had been culled

A cull of roe deer as part of a revamp of a 156-acre garden in Salford has been met with "horror and sadness".

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said fewer than 10 deer had been shot in the grounds of Worsley New Hall.

Plans to move the animals off the site of RHS Garden Bridgewater to prevent damage to plants were scuppered by Covid-19, the charity said.

Salford City councillor for Worsley, Robin Garrido, said his reaction was "horror" followed by "sadness".

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor and councillor Lewis Nelson, Salford's wildlife champion, said in a joint statement an investigation would be carried out.

The statement said: "The RHS gardens have the potential to hugely increase the biodiversity of this city - but the existing populations of wildlife must always be respected."

Darren Ward, Salford City councillor for Boothstown and Ellenbrook, said he wanted "assurance that this will not happen again".

Work is under way to create RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, which is expected to open in May 2021

A statement from the RHS posted on Facebook apologised for any upset caused and said the decision was made following advice from consultants, licensed through Natural England, in the health, welfare and management of deer.

It said: "To limit the significant potential damage to plants, shrubs and trees, a secure deer-proof fence has been installed around the perimeter of the garden and an internal fence has been erected to create a large deer enclosure in the North East quadrant of the site.

"A small population of deer remain within the deer enclosure and there is a plan to safely relocate them at a future date to another location.

"However, a very small number of deer have occupied the space outside the deer enclosure and due to the current COVID-19 restrictions it was not possible to herd, net and relocate them due to the large number of people required for such an exercise."