St George's Hill Lawn Tennis Club Culls Resident Canada Geese, Sparking Outrage

St George's Hill Lawn Tennis Club, an exclusive private club in Weybridge, Surrey, hired marksmen to shoot eight Canada geese, including goslings, on July 16. The club said the birds' droppings on courts, walkways and lake areas created health and safety concerns, making it difficult to keep playing surfaces clean. Members and local residents were not consulted and expressed anger, noting that the geese had lived on the estate for years and were previously featured in the club’s social‑media posts. The club, which opened in 1913 and charges annual fees of £2,664 plus a £2,000 entrance fee, defended the cull as necessary for hygiene. Critics argue non‑lethal options such as relocation should have been considered, reigniting debate over wildlife management at private facilities.