Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United take extra measures to protect endangered bats at training ground
According to The Sun, Manchester United are looking to install special hoods and shields on their floodlights at their training ground in Carrington to protect endangered bats that live there.
Carrington has gained its name and fame for not only being one of the state of the art training facilities in the country but for also developing and bringing up talented youngsters from the academy to give them an opportunity to break into the senior side.
Now, along with other improvements at the training facility such as a stand with TV gantry, ball-stop fencing, and toilet block, United have been given permission by the planning chiefs at Trafford Council to erect 14 column-mounted floodlights to training pitches to ensure better lighting.
As per the report of the Trafford Council, it is said that at least six species of bats have been identified in the area that regularly forages and commute around/over the region that surrounds Carrington’s training ground.
Protection for bat population
Under UK law, bats are a species that is protected. Therefore, if the Red Devils had submitted plans to the Council with proposals that had no special protection for the bat population in the area, it would have been rejected or perhaps viewed as damaging.
With special shields now agreed to be fitted around each of the 14 training ground floodlights approved for the club, it will ensure that the players and their training times and drills do not impact the bats’ natural habitat.
It is encouraging to see one of the world’s biggest clubs resort to practices that are environmentally conscious, and not just for their own benefit. Hopefully, this sets a new standard for clubs everywhere across the country.
A side like United’s repute stretches all over the world, so even small things like taking steps to protect the bat population and following government law are setting a precedent and example to fans across the globe.
These are not the only improvements that have taken place within the club in recent times, as the Red Devils recently spent £20m at Old Trafford to ensure a better experience for visitors and opposition teams from within the Premier League and outside the country.
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Bigger dressing rooms, a freshly laid pitch, and better post-match media facilities were all installed in the tunnel area at Old Trafford, and now, it looks like similar arrangements to improve Carrington are taking place.
All of these changes come in the backdrop of the club’s search for their next permanent manager to lead the club back to its glory days. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked a while back and with the club taking such a long time to settle on a name for the managerial hot seat, it is clear we are targeting big things- both on and off the pitch- for the coming years.
