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Rainforest garden to be created at Bristol Zoo

The Wildlife Trust A silver birch tree with a lot of moss on it. It is very green and there is green ferns all around too. The Wildlife Trust
Silver Birch will feature in the garden

A rainforest garden due to be displayed at RHS Chelsea Flower Show later this month is going to be housed at the Bristol Zoo Project.

The Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforest Garden is going to be used as an educational space within the zoo after it has been shown at Chelsea.

It is due to open in October and feature boulders and fern-lined trails, with a canopy of native trees created from hazels, field maples and silver birch from the show garden.

Garden designer Zoe Claymore said: "The chance to educate the next generation of conservationist and gardeners is truly a huge honour."

The garden can be seen at site number 340 throughout Chelsea week from Tuesday 20 May to Saturday 24 May.

It will then be recreated and reimagined in Bristol to inspire a link back to historic rainforests and teach younger generations.

The garden will feature boulders, lush undergrowth, lichen-encrusted trusts, honeysuckle and ivy to bring the rainforest environment to life.

Ben Porter A moss covered tree with ferns growing around it. Ben Porter
The garden will be used as an educational space

Justin Morris, chief executive of Bristol Zoological Society, said: "We are extremely excited about the arrival of the British Rainforest Garden later this year.

"It will fit perfectly into our Sanctuary Garden.

"This area will form the beginning of a new gardens biome at Bristol Zoo Project."

He added visitors would be encouraged to pause and reflect on the value of gardens and how they could take action to protect wildlife.

Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence at The Wildlife Trust, said: "How magical to rehome this little rainforest garden in a place already loved by generations of families."

The garden has been designed to be low carbon, with no concrete, clay, peat compost or virgin wood used in the design and all the plants are from UK nurseries using peat-free compost.

The British Rainforest Garden was funded by grant-making charity Project Giving Back and supported by Aviva.

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