RZSS LifeLinks - Summer 2017 Edinburgh Zoo gardens extract

GREEN GUIDE: EXPLORING THE GLORIOUS GARDENS OF EDINBURGH ZOO

SUMMER 2017

THE RZSS MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

INSIDE

MEET THE NEW WEE BEASTIES AT EDINBURGH ZOO + 20 YEARS OF OUR SPECTACULAR SUMMER SCHOOL

LESSER SP OT TED LEOPARDS SAVING THE WORLD’S RAREST CAT

BEHIND THE SCENES

THE HIDDEN GARDENS OF EDINBURGH ZOO With over 100 years of rich horticultural history, Edinburgh Zoo is home to some 82 acres of surprises just waiting to be discovered. In this article, Rab Harden, Head Gardener, shares some of his top tips for exploring the park this summer 1. Bamboo nurseries The first of our two bamboo nurseries, located by the giant panda enclosure, demonstrates some of the bamboo species found across Asia, Australia, the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa. It takes a team of specialists to ensure this diverse range of plants are kept healthy and robust. Further up the hill, the second, larger nursery houses 3,000 plants, which are used as a food source for our giant pandas.

FIND THE BAMBOO

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There are more than 26 species of bamboo found within the Zoo – use our bamboo key to spot them all.

2. Rose Garden

Rab Harden, Head Gardener at Edinburgh Zoo

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The Zoo’s renowned Rose Garden sits a stone’s throw from members’ gate. The current plantation was reinstated to celebrate the Zoo’s centenary in 2013.

Today’s plot sits on the same site as the original, which was developed by volunteer Alice Gair some 104 years ago.

There are over 400 rose plants within the garden (stemming from 29 different varieties), and an additional 300 hedging plants to be found here.

BEHIND THE SCENES

THIS MAP GUIDES YOU THROUGH A HANDFUL OF R AB’ S FAVOURITE ARE A S TO S TOP B Y AT T H E ZO O T H I S S U M M E R

6. Tree collection

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There are over 7,000 plants and 1,200 trees within the Zoo, each from a range of microclimates. Many of the trees visible today were planted the early 1900s. One of the most spectacular in the collection is the Davidia involucrata, or handkerchief tree. When weather conditions are optimal, this beautiful tree can be seen showing off its white fluttering blooms towards the end of July.

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5. Physic Garden This tranquil spot is testament to the skills and experience of two of our dedicated gardening volunteers, Celia and Sam. The pair have spent many months bringing the garden to life for visitors to enjoy. This little known gem takes you on a horticultural world tour, right in the heart of the Zoo. Follow the garden’s winding paths and discover how humans and animals benefit from nature’s very own pharmacy.

4. Corstorphine sycamore

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(Acer pseudoplatanus Corstorphinense) These distinctive, yellow sycamores are easy to spot. The original (and now largest) was planted in 1920 to commemorate the Great War. Despite growing so successfully within Zoo boundaries, these trees are incredibly rare; Corstorphinense only grow from vegetative cuttings, making them some of the most unique and valuable in our collection. So unique, in fact, that this specific type of sycamore can only be found within the confines of Edinburgh itself.

3. Filter pond Currently home to an array of plants and frogs, the filter pond will see new water lilies and marginal plants arriving this summer.

It is hoped that these, combined with the removal of reed beds and the opening out of the pond itself, will encourage families of dragonflies and newts to build their homes here.

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BEHIND THE SCENES

F O R T R E E ’ S A J O L LY GOOD FELLOW…

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his summer, Rab Harden celebrates his 16th anniversary in the RZSS Gardens team.

With so much experience, there was one obvious question to ask: where is Rab’s favourite place within the Zoo grounds? “There’s no better spot than the Hilltop Viewpoint,” he says.

“On a clear day, the view spans right above the tree canopies which roll over the Zoo grounds; you feel on top of the world. It’s such a calm, quiet spot.

You can see the whole city and surrounding hills – there’s literally nowhere else like it.”

Rab goes on to explain how this view has changed quite a bit since the Zoo first began.

“Before the Zoo opened its doors to the public in 1913, the site was a plant nursery owned by Thomas Blaikie, a Scottish botanist and plant collector.

Blaikie also planted many of the great French parks such as the Parisian botanic garden, Parc de Bagatelle. His legacy lives on today throughout the Zoo. You can find a memorial stone for Blaikie on the walkway that runs beneath the otter enclosure, where the path meets the pygmy hippo enclosure.

“Today, Edinburgh Zoo is home to one of the most diverse plant and tree collections in Scotland,” Rab explains. “We have studied the plants in our collection for many years, ensuring that we can give the animals that live here authentic habitats to explore and thrive in. Of course, it’s even better when we can provide our visitors with enclosures

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to see, or even walk through, themselves. Take the lemur walkthrough enclosure, for example. In the wild, lemurs thrive on really fresh fruit, so we planted a series of seasonal fruit trees throughout their enclosure. This allows the lemurs to graze as they would in the wild, and encourages them to exhibit their natural, playful behaviours.”

On asking Rab which was his favourite gardening project since joining the Society, he was quick to answer. “Without a doubt, our new Tiger Tracks enclosure. This project was something completely new for the team. We wanted to ensure our Sumatran tigers’ new home contained as many elements of their natural horticulture as possible.

Over 15 months, the site was developed to include over 3,700 different plants and trees, all nestled in 600 tonnes of recycled compost and soil. We received a bronze BIAZA horticulture award for the enclosure, and our Sumatran tigers have settled in really well. It’s not just our tigers who love their new space – it has proved so popular with visitors that it has even seen a few wedding proposals, but I won’t give too much away! I’ll leave you to discover the enclosure’s surprises for yourself,” he adds. Δ There are full versions of the Garden Highlights maps available for collection at the main entrance to Edinburgh Zoo.

Now Open New for 2017 Enter our brand new reptile, amphibian and creepy crawly house. Find them over beside the penguins.

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edinburghzoo.org.uk/weebeasties