Bristol Zoo’s gardens win gold award

Bristol Zoo’s impressive 12-acre gardens have won the prestigious Bristol in Bloom award.

The Zoo has won gold in the ‘Best Commercial and Industrial Landscape’ category, for the twelfth year running.

The award reflects the whole Zoo, as the judges not only take in to consideration the landscape, but many other factors such as cleanliness and recycling initiatives.

Judges gave particular credit to the Zoo’s bedding and herbaceous border, and to its willow maze which was made using recycled bark chippings and willow which were donated to the Zoo.

Bristol Zoo’s Head of Horticulture, Eddie Mole, said “We are incredibly pleased that the Zoo has once again been awarded Bristol in Bloom’s gold medal in our category. It has been a particularly good year for the Zoo gardens with the plants and flowers all growing well thanks to the weather and the attention to detail by our gardens team. The Zoo gardens are looking the best they have in years.”

He added: “We work hard to keep our gardens looking their best all year round, so it is great to receive this recognition and accolade.”

Bristol in Bloom works with communities and organisations across the city to improve the tidiness, appearance and visual appeal of Bristol's open spaces, neighbourhoods, parks, and streets through the imaginative use of flowers, plants and trees. A focus on the preservation of heritage and culture is also an integral part - all resulting in an improved quality of life for residents.

Mike Crook, chairman for Bristol in Bloom Community Association, said: “The response was very high and the standard of entries was also very high. The judges were most impressed with the efforts everyone had so obviously made.”

Throughout September, Bristol Zoo is offering half price entry to senior citizens wishing to visit the Zoo and its 12-acre botanical gardens.To claim half price entry, simply visit the Zoo’s website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/special-offersactivitiesand print off a copy of the ‘Senior Citizens Saver - Half Price Voucher’, complete it and present it at the Zoo on arrival. Alternatively contact the Zoo by telephone on 0117 974 7300. Vouchers are only redeemable during September 2010.

Garden lovers are also being offered the opportunity to visit Bristol Zoo for an exclusive tour of the Zoo’s beautiful gardens this month. The event, called ‘Garden Delights’, runs every Wednesday throughout September. Guests will be able to meet the Zoo’s gardeners during a guided tour of the award-winning gardens. Cream tea will also be served in the Garden Room of the Zoo’s impressive pavilion building, accompanied by a traditional jazz duet. Cleeve Nursery will also be on hand, offering expert gardening advice, as well as a 15% discount on a range of gardening products. For details on Gardens Delight, visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/garden-tours-and-teasor contact the Zoo by telephone on 0117 974 7300.

ENDS

For press enquiries please contact the Bristol Zoo Gardens press office:

Lucy Parkinson, T: 0117 974 7306, E: lparkinson@bristolzoo.org.uk

Vanessa Hollier, T: 0117 974 7309, E: vhollier@bristolzoo.org.uk

Notes to the Editor

BristolZoo Gardens

• BristolZoo Gardensis an education and conservation charity and relies on the income from visitors to support its work. 
• Throughout 2010 Bristol Zoo will be running a series of events to highlight the importance of conserving the world’s biodiversity, as part of the international Year of Biodiversity. For more information visit the Zoo website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation/campaigns/iyob
• To find out more about the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity visit the website at www.biodiversityislife.net
• Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 
• The Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys 140 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• BristolZoo Gardenssupports – through finance and skill sharing - over 12 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• BristolZoo Gardensis a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
• In 2010, International Year of Biodiversity, Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.