Wimbledon faces calls to MOVE part of iconic SW19 venue
BAT AND BALL Wimbledon faces calls to MOVE part of iconic SW19 venue – to save BATS
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
WIMBLEDON is facing calls to move parts of its iconic queue – to save bats.
A short section of the lengthy path to The Championships, where 10,000 people a day have camped or waited to get in, runs through a Wimbledon Park bat protection zone.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
Ticketless fans queue in their thousands at Wimbledon Park
Credit: Alamy
3
There are calls for the queue to be moved to protect wildlife
Credit: Getty
Queuers are not allowed to stand in the zone and are moved through quickly to avoid disturbing the nocturnal mammals.
Activists claimed that tournament bosses should shift the queue entirely over fears it could be disturbing the protected animals.
Simon Wright, of the Save Wimbledon Park group, said the queue was defeating the point of a conservation area.
The campaigner, who is contesting the All England Club's planned expansion, added: 'The queue could be on their own land.
'Every year, we lose more of the park to the queue, and every year, they start building it earlier.
'There has not been a consideration of the impact of their plans on wildlife all the way through, so I'm not particularly surprised that they're doing this.
'I'm a big fan of the bats of Wimbledon Park because it's a lovely thing to do to go and sit by the lake at dusk and watch the bats feeding on the insects as they fly around.
'It's completely ridiculous to have a bat protection zone and then put a load of people through it.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
'Just walking through will still disturb the bats' natural environment, and they're very sensitive creatures.'
No WiFi is available in the zone as critical wireless hardware used to beam signals to fans' phones is not allowed.
But hopeful queuers are permitted to walk through the zone despite a drive to conserve the eight protected bat species in the 67-acre Wimbledon Park.
The move is not linked to WiFi signals, though previous studies have claimed radio waves can damage bats' 'magnetic compass'.
It can prevent the animals from remembering where their shelters are.
A 2017 study found birds, insects and plants are likely being harmed by electromagnetic radiation from Wi-Fi, cell phone towers, broadcast transmitters and power lines.
Birds and insects affected by radio waves can become disorientated, though generally most are unaffected.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Wimbledon's organisers, who were asked to comment.
3
WIMBLEDON 2025 LIVE - FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST SCORES AND UPDATES FROM A THRILLING FORTNIGHT AT SW19
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Venus Williams, 45, announces shock US Open comeback after two years without competing in a Grand Slam
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VENUS WILLIAMS will play in a Grand Slam for the first time in two years after being handed a US Open wildcard. World No577 Williams was given a spot in the main draw of her home Major at the age of 45. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Venus Williams received a wildcard for the US Open Credit: Getty It means she is set to feature in a record-extending 25th US Open singles tournament which gets underway on August 24. And the veteran remains on course to be the oldest singles star to take to the court at Flushing Meadows for 44 years. In 1981, Renee Richards played at the age of 47. Many expected Williams to retire from tennis this year, having not competed between March 2024 and July 2025 due to health struggles - she needed surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus a year ago. Her last win was way back at the Cincinnati Open in August 2023. However, she accepted a wildcard for the Washington Open last month and stunned then-world No35 Peyton Stearns to win 6-3 6-4. And despite a first-round loss at Cincinnati, one of the all-time greats will grace the New York courts once more at the upcoming US Open, where the prize money stands at a record $5million [£3.7m]. Williams made the final on her debut at the Grand Slam event way back in 1997, losing to Martina Hingis. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS She was crowned champion in 2000 and 2001, beating sister Serena in the latter. But from the French Open 2002 to Wimbledon 2003, Venus reached five Grand Slam finals - and lost them all to her younger sibling. Tennis star Venus Williams talks about her struggles with chronic illness and Sjogren's syndrome Tennis stars' new careers PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring. But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best… I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend I'm last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I'm singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist Venus - a five-time Wimbledon winner - will also take part in the controversial mixed doubles event in the week before the singles draws get underway. Doubles specialists have been sidelined with a new, faster format and high-profile singles players teaming up - including Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz. Williams received a wildcard entry alongside compatriot partner Reilly Opelka. 3 Venus beat sister Serena in the 2001 final at Flushing Meadows Credit: AP
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Tennis duo soar to national doubles title at Wimbledon
Daniel, 28, and Vera, 35, who represent Kent at tennis and live in Crystal Palace, featured in the national finals at Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, which is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition and is delivered in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club. Thousands of players took part in the qualifying stages this year, leading to county and regional finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on Wimbledon's Aorangi Courts last week. Daniel and Vera, who described Jannik Sinner as their tennis idol, claimed victory in the women's doubles competition on the famous grass courts of Wimbledon and revealed it was an experience they will never forget. Our grass courts are back in action 🤩 This week, they're hosting the Finals of Play Your Way to #Wimbledon, powered by @VodafoneUK 🎾 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 7, 2025 Daniel said: "It's crazy, absolutely crazy. We said at the beginning just enjoy it, take each game and each point as it comes. We didn't expect [to win] at all. 'I competed two years ago but didn't get past the round robin stage, so this is a very different experience going further.' Vera added: 'I never thought I would be playing here. I played a lot of tennis as a kid and you obviously always think about Wimbledon, even if it's not the actual Grand Slam, just being here is amazing. 'It's very surreal to play here, also because we don't usually play on grass so it's a really nice feeling.' This year's tournament delivered over 10,000 playing opportunities with thousands of singles and doubles players taking part at 800 venues, leading to county and area finals in June and July, with the winners progressing to the national finals on the All England Club's Aorangi Courts from 3 – 9 August 2025. The competition aims to broaden playing opportunities and to inspire people of all ages and abilities to play tennis and follow in the footsteps of their tennis heroes by competing for a chance to play on Wimbledon's iconic courts. In addition to 14 and under singles, 18 and under doubles and adult doubles draws, the categories also included wheelchair (adult and juniors), learning disability and visually impaired competitions. The national finals also saw the return of popular para-standing and deaf tennis exhibition matches held during the week. World No.1 wheelchair doubles partners and Vodafone ambassadors Alfie Hewett OBE and Gordon Reid OBE were in attendance to cheer on the players at SW19 and offer their experience and advice. 'We would have loved to have had something like this when we were younger and playing'' said Hewett. 'Play your Way to Wimbledon is a massive event for someone to pick up a racket for the first time or start playing again if they haven't for a while. 'It's about being active at grassroots level, making friends and new tennis partners and that is the beauty of events like this.' Reid added: 'We want tennis to be available and accessible to everybody and get as many people as possible enjoying the sport. 'This event encapsulates that perfectly and we're proud to be a part of it.' Play Your Way to Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, is the UK's largest individual mass participation tennis competition. It is delivered by Vodafone, in partnership with the LTA and the All England Club, forming part of Vodafone's ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots tennis in the UK and making the sport more accessible for players of all ages and abilities.
Spectator
14 hours ago
- Spectator
Nothing can save test cricket
Forgive me if I don't join the general 'Make mine a treble' hoo-ha about the future of Test cricket after the theatre of the final day of the Oval Test against India, as an injured Chris Woakes made his way to the crease. Why was Woakes ever allowed to bat? His shoulder was dislocated and he was clearly in agony. Of course he wanted to help his country but he should have been stopped by Ben Stokes or Baz McCullum. This was a game of cricket, not the search for the nuclear codes. We knew the last pair would have to run to try to keep Woakes off the strike. What if he had tripped? That happens on cricket pitches – a lot. And what if he had had to face a ball? Some poor Indian bowler would have had to work out what to do with a very hard ball that he was about to hurl at somebody seriously injured. I love a plucky last-wicket stand as much as the next man but Woakes should not have been out there, whatever he was willing to do. The series was certainly thrilling, with the right result. As for the scheduling, it seems a pity that Test cricket is now over halfway through the summer. White ball series against South Africa and Ireland in September are not much to look forward to. The cricket calendar is a mess with no solution in sight. Test cricket is well and truly alive in England and Australia when England or India are touring, but that's about it. Tests in the West Indies are all but over except when they can be staged as tourism events for English visitors. It's heading the same way in Sri Lanka and South Africa. Unless we are careful, Test cricket will soon be like riding a penny farthing in a top hat. Nice and vaguely skilful but nobody gives a damn. I am sure there will still be an Ashes in a decade but viewed as a period piece. All fine and dandy but teetering on the brink of pastiche. How cheery to see two palindromic footballers up against each other when Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike met Palace's Eberechi Eze in the season's opener. Palace seems to be a haven for palindromes, with the likeable Romain Esse yet to step out for the Eagles. Palindromic footballers are not that common though scholars might recall Marcelo Salas, the scary-looking Chile striker, or Massimo Oddo, the Milan academy coach. It's tennis where palindromic players flourish, with three grand slam-winning palindromes. Monica Seles and Marin Cilic spring to mind; Lottie Dod is more difficult to recall, though she won Wimbledon five times in the late 19th century and is still the youngest ladies' singles champion at 15. Invented 500 years ago by Scotsmen knocking pebbles around in sand dunes, golf continues to be a funny old game, as we were reminded last Sunday when Englishman Justin Rose kept on winning at the age of 45, while his 34-year-old compatriot Tommy Fleetwood kept on losing. Rose's victory in the $20 million St Jude Classic was his 12th on the US PGA tour; Fleetwood on the other hand has played 162 events on the tour without winning, despite coming close several times. He has the highest PGA tour earnings without a victory, having trousered more than $31.4 million for the honour of being a perpetual loser. Why is it, however, that men of a certain age tend to stop winning golf events when a 50-year-old is just as capable as a 20-year-old of reaching the green of a par-four hole in two shots? Experts say it is the putting that sorts the old men from the boys. Rose's defiance of the putting yips is remarkable; he puts it down to physical fitness and concentrating on 'the feel of the stroke' rather than the outcome. A concept that might have baffled those early Scottish pioneers as much as the fact that Rose has picked up £54.5 million in prize money – and that's just on the PGA tour.
