Press release

April 19, 2010

The late arrival of spring means visitors to Bristol Zoo are now being treated to a beautiful display of colourful flowers in bloom.

Last week the Met Office confirmed that spring is officially one month late, meaning flowers and trees are blooming later than usual for the time of year.

The news means visitors to Bristol Zoo’s award-winning 12-acre gardens can now expect to see a host of spring flowers in all their colourful glory.

Eddie Mole, Bristol Zoo’s head of horticulture, said: “The late arrival of spring this year has had quite a big impact on our plants and flowers here, the grass is not growing as quickly as we usually expect at this time of year and the banana and tree ferns are only now starting to come into their full springtime glory.”

However, Eddie said it means visitors will get a late treat: “The late spring has compacted the growth season which means our visitors are now being treated to a beautiful spring bulb display of hyacinths, daffodils and tulips all at once,” he said. “It also means that the trees and shrubs are only now showing their spring colour as they begin to burst into leaf.”

The Zoo’s team of gardeners are now putting the finishing touches to a host of activities planned to celebrate Plant Conservation Day, from Tuesday May 18^thto Sunday, May 23^rd. 

Plant Conservation Day aims to raise awareness of the important role that plants play, with a particular focus on insectivorous, meat-eating plants such as the Venus fly trap. Visitors will be able to visit the Zoo and meet some of the gardening team and find out more about the world of plants.

The importance of flowers and plants will also be the subject of the Zoo’s efforts for International Year of Biodiversity Day on Saturday May 22^nd.Each family will receive a free packet of seeds upon entry to Bristol Zoo on Saturday 22 May, to support the International Year of Biodiversity.

Visitors will be encouraged to plant the seeds in their garden and watch them bloom into colourful flowers. Eddie Mole explains: “Vibrant plants attract lots of different species of insects and birdswho in turn play a vital role in protecting your garden. A diverse garden is less likely to encounter problems such as pests and disease.” Five different types of seeds will be available; field corn flowers, cowslips, field scabious, field poppy and wild pansy.

For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.ukor phone 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.