ungle out there!
zoo, turf grasses; the zoo’s philosophy being that, whilst they are often taken for granted, they are used extensively in our urban landscapes, in our parks and gardens, and are still the main surfaces on which outdoor sports are played. Therefore, displays of different grass mixtures are grown for the public to make comparisons.
As well as the grass plants themselves,
the area has been attractively landscaped and features a boardwalk running alongside the canal, large boulders and stones, a central seating area and a suitably thatched wooden roundhouse in which the public can sit and relax. Throughout the garden there are a range of interpretation boards informing the public about the usefulness and diversity of this amazing family of plants. This exceptional approach to the
environment and education meant that Chester Zoo were the first in the UK to have been awarded the environmental
standard ISO14001 - a clear commitment to the cause.
The conservation of animals is dependent upon the protection of their habitats too. Within many of the animal enclosures an environment is created to reflect the natural habitat in which the animals would live in the wild, thereby further educating the public about conserving both flora and fauna. Looking after this extensive site is Mark Hargreaves, the team leader of the Horticulture/Botany department. Mark has spent over thirty years working at the zoo, where he began as an apprentice gardener, gradually working his way up to his present position. He reports to the zoo’s curator of Botany and Horticulture, Mark Sparrow, and looks after a team of twelve horticulturists. There are six senior horticulturists; Matthew Jenkins, John Fletcher, Ray Newey, Keith Done, Paul Leach and Richard Hewitt . Paul
Shipsides is the team leader at the Indoor Tropical Displays and Nursery. Clive Roe, Anna Furse, Charles Williams, Richard Hore and Vivienne Bown complete the team.
They manage all the day-to-day maintenance requirements of both the indoor and outdoor landscape features. Mark is keen to promote
environmentally friendly practices by using materials and techniques that are energy efficient and sustainable. This includes composting all green waste, which is then used as a mulching compound for beds and borders. Staff begin work at 7.00am and finish at 4.00pm. The early start allows the staff to get the site tidy and presentable before it opens at 10.00am. No mowers or machinery can be operated during opening hours. Lawn areas are generally mown on a weekly basis, however, if growth is vigorous they may need to mow twice. 101
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