Deer cull at RHS Garden Bridgewater: 'Mistakes were made', admits charity

The Royal Horticultural Society said plans to move the deer had been scuppered by coronavirus restrictions

A gardening charity said it made "a mistake" when it shot nine deer to protect plants at a new 154-acre site.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) ordered the cull of roe deer at RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford.

Salford City Council met the RHS after some councillors expressed "horror" and sought assurances that such action would "not happen again".

The RHS apologised for what happened, saying: "We know how much we have upset people and very much regret this."

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

Plans to move the animals off the site were scuppered by Covid-19, the charity said earlier.

"We know we should have got in touch with our local community and Salford City Council and discussed these challenges at the time and are sorry that we made a mistake and did not do this," their statement said.

After the meeting, a joint statement was issued by Salford Mayor Paul Dennett and Councillor Lewis Nelson, the city's wildlife champion.

The RHS had no further plans to cull deer in the grounds of Worsley New Hall and any questions as to the future of the herd would be discussed with the local community, it said.

The meeting was chaired by Opposition Leader Councillor Les Turner, who described the talks as "constructive".

"The RHS has acknowledged mistakes were made and we have agreed a way forward with regular meetings and new policies," he said.