Bristol Zoo Project unveils Chelsea Flower Show rainforest garden

Marcus Boothe,Bristol and

Lee Madan,Bristol

Clive Nicholls A vibrant picture with lots of plants and trees and a foot path running horizontally through the forest. There is also a stone path walkway at the top of the photo. It is mostly green, with some tall pink flowers on the left hand side of the image. Clive Nicholls

The zoo wants to remind people that rainforests are part of Britain’s landscape

An award-winning rainforest display which featured in this year’s Chelsea Flower Show has officially opened at a zoo.

The rare biodiverse habitat at Bristol Zoo Project will be used as an educational space and is part of a 100-year scheme to restore Britain’s temperate rainforests.

The Wildlife Trust display includes native plants that, according to the zoo, once covered the distance of Cornwall to the west of Scotland, but now cover less than 1% of the UK.

Award-winning garden designer Zoe Claymore said it was exciting to know the garden would help to safeguard these rainforests for the future.

“Seeing the British Rainforest Garden find a permanent home at Bristol Zoo Project feels incredibly special,” she added.

Bristol Zoo Gardens Zoe, wearing a green jacket, crouched down, talking to a group of small children and showing them the garden with a male helper who is wearing a white hoodie and blue jeans. Bristol Zoo Gardens

It is hoped visitors will use the garden to learn more about rainforests and biodiversity

The rainforest display was a winner of the RHS People’s Choice Award at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

It includes a combination of native tree species, such as, oak, birch, holly, rowan, alder and willow, across an area equivalent to the size of 2,600 football pitches.

Bristol Zoo Project said this would be the first time a rainforest landscape would be based in the city.

Zoe Claymore Painting of the nature reserve area which includes a walk way, a bench and trees, with plants/shrubbery below. A man in a wheelchair is on the path and there is a girl sitting on a bench. Zoe Claymore

The space is wheelchair accessible and has seating

The zoo’s director of conservation and science, Brian Zimmerman, said he wanted the space to offer learning opportunities for visitors.

“They [Britain’s rainforests] existed here for millions of years and unfortunately most of them were cut down many centuries ago,” he explained.

“The fact that we’re bringing one back to life here on the site in Bristol Zoo project is really exciting for us to be able to have that space to do the teaching.”

Ms Claymore added: “This garden was designed to spark wonder and connection, to remind people that rainforests aren’t just faraway places, but part of our own landscape here in Britain.”