Specialists called in to tackle “rodent activity” in top Sheffield attraction – thestar.co.uk
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Sheffield City Council has brought in specialist contractors after identifying what it described as low-level rodent activity at the Winter Garden, the large indoor botanical attraction in the city centre. The issue was reported after a visitor said that seeing rodents moving around the venue had made him feel queasy. The council said it was responding to the activity rather than reporting a wider closure or a confirmed public-health incident.
Richard Eyre, the council’s director of street scene and regulation, said the Winter Garden’s extensive plants and foliage create an indoor ecosystem that can offer shelter to wildlife, including mice. He said there was no current risk to human health. The authority said its cleaning arrangements were giving particular attention to areas near benches and tables where visitors eat, while contractors worked to identify and seal gaps and other possible entry points around the building’s perimeter.
- Specialist contractors are dealing with low-level rodent activity at Sheffield’s Winter Garden.
- The council says the attraction’s planting can provide habitat for mice.
- Officials say there is no current risk to human health and are improving cleaning and sealing access points.
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Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire with a range of well-known visitor attractions, including museums, galleries, historic sites and outdoor venues. Such places are used by local residents, tourists and school groups, and may be run by councils, charities or private operators.
Rodents such as rats and mice are common in urban areas and can enter buildings in search of food, warmth and shelter. Pest-control specialists typically inspect a site, identify how animals are getting in and use measures intended to remove them and prevent a return.
The issue can matter for an attraction because operators have responsibilities around cleanliness, food safety and visitor confidence. The seriousness of any problem depends on factors such as where activity is found, whether public areas are affected and what action the site takes.
More coverage
- The Star (Sheffield) — Specialists called in to tackle "rodent activity" in Winter Garden in Sheffield
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