to 1st November, hedges
that form barriers around the zoo are clipped a minimum of three times to maintain sight lines. The large lakes and waterways are inspected regularly for any build up of weeds and debris, and action is taken as necessary.
The composter really comes into its own during the winter months when the park is closed. The winter pruning programme produces a vast amount of green waste. All the trees on the site are subject
to Tree Preservation Orders, which requires George to get permission from the local authority to carry out any significant work on them. With so many visitors, health and safety is a prime concern. All tress in close proximity to public areas are inspected annually by an independent arboriculturalist. Characteristics, such as root plate movement, fungal bodies, dead branches, tight branch unions, cracks, splits, twists, ivy, disease,
leaf size etc., are all noted during the assessment. George and Nigel also inspect them regularly for any signs of damage.
All the gardening staff are qualified chainsaw operators, with George taking the lead in their training. Tree climbing work is generally undertaken by George. During the winter months
crown lifting, dead wooding and, if required, limb removal is carried out.
The closed season also sees the staff refurbishing shrub beds or planting up new landscape schemes. Nigel, Steve and Chris usually carry out the mowing duties on a weekly cycle. Large areas that form the car parking areas, camping and
verges are mown to a height of 35mm, using either the Ransomes Parkway 2250 or the Hayter LT324 triple cylinder mowers. Margins are cut with a John Deere GX355 ride on rotary. Other mowing duties, using pedestrian mowers, include formal grass areas, playgrounds and the park entrance. Animal paddocks are occasionally mown, with some caution, no doubt! Strimming around obstacles usually takes up to three days to complete.
On a busy day the car park will accommodate 5,000 cars, all on grass that is accessed from hard standing roadways. These areas are drained with a primary and, in some cases, a secondary drainage system. To prevent the grass areas from becoming heavily compacted regular aeration is carried out using a hired vertidrain.
Since the 1980s, the family have invested over £40 million, which equates to around £2 million a year on new rides. One of the most recent attractions has been the well- received Thomas the Tank Engine World, a railway network for transporting visitors around the park.
The landscaping of this new theme
pretty much requires a full time gardener to look after it, with Adrian Salter spending most days keeping the weeds down, ensuring the track is safe and free of debris and bedding in new plants. As part of the continuing growth of the site, planning permission for a 150 room hotel complex as been approved. This will be sited on the existing camping area, with many of the old estate trees being featured in the new landscaping. This, in turn, will mean that the camping site will be moved to a new area. And, with George planning to establish an arboretum and a nature reserve within the existing 35-acre nature trail site, it looks like the gardening team will have plenty to occupy them over the coming months and years.
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