Curator of Horticulture and Botany, Mark Sparrow, plants the first trees on the site of a new nature reserve with volunteers from MBNA and Bank of America Merrill Lynch
The reserve is part of our commitment to the conservation of native species and will be free of charge to the public without having to enter the zoo.
The two acre site is being developed with wildflower meadows and a dipping pond along with a grass amphitheatre which will be used for environmentally-themed events and as an outside classroom for schools.
Planting has already started with zoo staff joined by volunteers from Bank of America-owned MBNA and Chester-based employees of Bank of America Merrill Lynch who helped plant the first 150 native trees.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is one of the organisations that helped to fund the project, which is being developed on a site just off the zoo’s main car park.
Development Director Simon Mann said:
“There’s some pretty wild animals in the zoo and some pretty wild creatures outside of it too! The nature reserve will give people the chance to come along and see all sorts of fantastic native species such as orange tip butterflies, buzzards, a huge array of invertebrates and lots of small mammals.
“The nature reserve will be open all year round and will showcase the very best of Cheshire’s natural environment. It will be a fantastic place for recreation, education and, above all, enjoyment for everyone. We hope it’ll inspire a new generation to take an interest in all the wonderful nature that’s around them and the importance of looking after it.”
The paths within the reserve will also link to cycle routes and a local bridle path and it is hoped it will open in spring 2014.
Special thanks
A number of other organisations, including Bank of America Merrill Lynch have helped to fund the nature reserve. These include:
Lord Leverhulme’s Charitable Trust Mrs T A Briggs Deceased Trust The Ronald and Kathleen Pryor Charity The Hamamelis Trust People’s Postcode Trust The William Dean Trust Cheshire Pitt Club The Business Network Chester