Stressed-out hedgehogs and badgers get ‘right to roam’ near Manchester paintball centre

Stressed-out hedgehogs and badgers around a paintball centre in Greater Manchester’s largest area of green belt woodland are getting a “right to roam”.

A backdated planning application for the fun-seekers facility – launched in 2014 – has been approved by councillors on Salford’s planning and transportation regulatory panel.

But after concerns were raised about the disturbance and threat to rare mammals in the area, it was agreed that fencing around the Delta Force Paintball site at Botany Bay Wood in Eccles should allow animals like hedgehogs and badgers to pass through.

The condition on the approval followed comments by Councillor Bob Clarke, who said: “My heart sinks. This is green belt land.

“It [the paintball centre] is devastating for nature. We are seeing a large part of a wooded area turning to trash. It should be left to wildlife and paintballing should go to a brownfield site, and be built for purpose. It’s horrendous.”

His colleague, Coun Philip Cusack noted that the site is encircled by wire mesh fencing.

Coun Cusack went on: “There are rare mammals in the vicinity. Is there provision for the movement of large and small animals?”

Chair of the panel Counc Ray Mashiter agreed that “hedgehogs and badgers should have a right to roam”.

And he said that “in an ideal world” the paintball centre would not be allowed on green belt, but “national planning policy allows recreational activity on such land”.

Botany Bay Wood, part of Worsley Moss, is the largest single block of woodland in Greater Manchester and has been designated a site of biological importance and is also recognised as a “potential site of special scientific interest” (pSSSI) by Natural England.

The dense woodland is home to one of the UK’s largest colonies of herons, although it has “contracted” in recent years.

Two other outdoor sports and recreation centres are neighbours – Manchester Clay Shooting Club and the Adventure Now facility.