Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Hosts a Gardens Open Evening to Coincide with Plant Conservation Day

By Philip Knowling 

Paignton, UK - Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is holding the first of two gardens open evenings to coincide with Plant Conservation Day.

The evening will be a chance to explore the Zoo’s gardens and find out more about the horticultural work of the charity. Paignton Zoo was the first combined zoological and botanical garden in Britain and is involved in research and conservation with native plants species. The event includes a question and answer session with a panel of garden experts.

Curator of Plants and Gardens Kevin Frediani said: “This year we will be providing an insight into plant use and plant conservation at Paignton Zoo. The tour will focus on new plantings and a display to promote the Zoo’s work in conserving a rare grass, Bromus intteruptus in partnership with Kew, Natural England and Wakehurst Place. 

“For the first time we are taking people behind-the-scenes to show off some of our plant conservation work.” This includes growing plants found only at Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve (also owned by the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust) and rare forms of Sorbus (whitebeam) from around the UK. These will eventually be planted out as part of a reference collection for researchers.”

Kevin added: “Our open evenings are very special for the Zoo’s gardening team. We get to meet interested visitors and discuss progress. The main theme this year is about exploring and conserving the diversity of plants to coincide with Plant Conservation Day.”

Plant Conservation Day (Monday 18th May) started in the US and has spread through the support of organisations such as Botanic Gardens Conservation International (of which Paignton Zoo is a member) and botanical and zoological gardens around the world as a way of highlighting the importance of plant conservation (www.plantconservationday.org). The second of this year’s gardens open evenings is on Thursday 18th June.

Places are limited. Tickets are £10.00 each. To book telephone 01803 697500. Tour starts promptly at 7:15pm. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk, ring (01803) 697500 or email info@paigntonzoo.org.uk.

Paignton Zoo is a member of the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA). BIAZA represents its member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums. For further information please telephone 020 7449 6351.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park & Living Coasts
Totnes Road
Paignton
Devon
TQ4 7EU

www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
www.livingcoasts.org.uk

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. Registered office: Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Totnes Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7EU. Registration number 792877. Registered charity number 300923. Place of incorporation: Companies House, Cardiff.

Photo: Curator of plants, Kevin Frediani – with some plants!

To view Paignton Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-783-Paignton_Zoo_Environmental_Park