Wildlife Garden
The Wildlife Garden at Chester Zoo
The Wildlife Garden at Chester Zoo, which was designed and planted by the Zoo’s Horticulture Department, informs visitors about the important part their own back gardens can play in providing a home for native wildlife. The garden site was chosen to reflect the size of an average back garden, and it was important to get the message across that wildlife gardening doesn’t have to mean an overgrown jungle ‘full of weeds’. There are many methods that can be introduced to encourage wildlife into a garden. We wanted to include as many of these as was practical in the space available. We have included a compost heap, log pile, wild flower area, a pond, bird and bat boxes, bird feeders, a garden shed with rainwater collection, and an herbaceous border full of plants which attract birds and insects. Another area of the garden has been put over to growing vegetables in which companion plants have been used that deter pests or encourage beneficial insects. The garden contains a range of interpretation designed to inspire visitors to take away and put into practice one or more of the ideas they see. We hope that people will see that wildlife gardening doesn’t need to be hard work, in fact if you get the balance right you can save time and money.
The Garden was officially opened in April by TV personality and keen bird watcher Bill Oddie.
The Theme of the Garden
Biodiversity is defined as the richness of the natural world. This garden shows simple measures that can be taken to increase biodiversity in an average sized suburban back garden. It gives examples of methods used for encouraging wildlife into the garden.
Content
To achieve these aims the garden incorporates a number of essential features:
A pond – this incorporates a fairly formal water feature, designed to allow amphibians and other wildlife to use it. It also incorporates safety features to address the concerns of many parents when considering a pond in the garden
Hedging – using Pyracantha, this provides nesting opportunities, and a food source for birds
Lawn – an area of lawn, containing some naturally occurring low growing plants, e.g. daisies, clover, self heal, shows that even a well maintained grass sward can still provide a food source for insects. The lawn is edged with second hand granite setts.
Plant borders – the plants chosen are those that are particularly attractive to butterflies and other insects. During the summer months these plants will be alive with visiting insects searching for nectar.
Vegetables – a range of commonly available vegetables and herbs are growing in a separate plot, while some are incorporated within the ornamental flower beds. The importance of companion planting is shown using pot marigolds, chives and other species that have a natural defence mechanism against insects. Natural pest control is a very strong message within the garden
Compost bin – a compost bin shows the typical ingredients needed to create compost for the garden. An important message to the public is that every household could be recycling their organic waste. This compost bin is made out of reclaimed wood.
Bird boxes/feeders – a number of these are located strategically throughout the garden to show the range and style available.
Hibernation boxes – these provide a safe haven for overwintering beneficial insects such as ladybirds and lacewings
Patio area – made from reclaimed slate
Planters – We have converted an old animal feeder into a planter, and used imitation lead pots for individual herbs
All of the hard landscaping materials and features are made from reclaimed, recycled or recyclable materials.
Purpose
One of the principal aims of Chester Zoo is to raise awareness of the natural world and encourage people to conserve animal and plant species. This garden provides the opportunity to highlight simple practical measures everybody can take to help in this cause.
Composting
Composting kitchen and garden waste will produce a free, environmentally friendly source of organic matter that can be used throughout the garden.
Before using compost must be well matured, dark brown with a crumbly soil-like texture and a smell resembling damp woodland. It can be either used as a surface mulch or incorporated into the top 20cm of the soil.
Adding compost to the soil can help support soil life along with improving soil fertility and soil structure. Adding compost to light, sandy soils makes them able to hold on to more water, while heavy soils will drain more freely.
Applying 10 to 15cm of compost as a mulch to damp soil in spring helps in regulating soil temperature, keeping roots warm in winter and cool in summer, maintaining soil moisture, decreasing erosion and controlling weed germination.
Composting is the most sustainable way of disposing of garden and vegetable kitchen waste as it diverts organic refuse away from the dustbin and ultimately reduces landfill.
Planting in the Wildlife Garden
Herbaceous
Achillea filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’
Achillea filipendulina ‘Salmon Beauty’
Allium schoenoprasum
Aster ‘Berggarten’
Centranthus ruber
Centaurea montana
Helianthemum ‘Mixed Varieties’
Echinacea magnus
Foeniculum vulgare
Monarda didyma
Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’
Solidago ‘Goldkind’
Salvia ‘Loterine’
Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’
Shrubs
Buddleya fallowiana ‘Lochinch’
Buddleya davidii ‘White Profusion’
Hebe ‘Red Edge’
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’
Lavendula ‘Hidcote’
Caryopteris ‘Heavenly Blue’
Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’
Hedge
Pyracantha ‘Saphyr Orange’
Pear tree (Step over fruit trees)
Pyrus ‘Concorde’
Pyrus ‘Conference’
Pyrus ‘Comice’
Pond
Iris laevigata
Mentha aquatica
Myosotis scorpioides
Potamogeton crispus
Herbs
Nepeta xfaasenii ‘Six Hills Giant’
Thymus ‘Doone Valley’
Origanum vulgare
Anthemis nobile ‘Treneague’
Salvia officinalis ‘Icterina’
Garden Plants for Butterflies
Spring:
Aubretia Aubretia deltoidea
Honesty Lunaria annua
Primrose Primula vulgaris
Sweet rocket Hesperis matronalis
Wallflower Erysimum cheiri
Summer:
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
Buddleia Buddleia davidii
Red Valerian Centranthus ruber
Marjoram Origanum officinale
Catmint Nepeta
Cornflower Centaurea cyanus
Thyme Thymus
Scabious Scabiosa
Hebe Hebe
Candytuft Iberis amara
Autumn:
Ice plant Sedum spectabile
Michaelmas daisy Aster novi-belgii
Aster Aster
Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis
Goldenrod Solidago