A SOMERSET zoo has been busy planting more than 5,000 trees during the latest lockdown

The project at Noah's Ark Zoo farm in Wraxhall near Clevedon was completed in two phases with a total of over 5,500 trees planted in and around the zoo.

The zoo’s Grounds Team planted 2,500 mixed native hedging whips of Field Maple, Hawthorn, Spindle, Gelder Rose and Hazel trees to form hedgerows in the top sheep field to create four new paddocks for our Rare Breeds British Farm Animals project.

The remaining trees were used to repair pre-existing arable field hedges where sections had collapsed. These areas were removed to enable the establishment of the new hedges, with much of the damaged hedgerow being used as browse for our elephants, giraffes and camels, so nothing was wasted.

A further 55 larger, established Hornbeam, Oak, Lime and Field Maple trees were planted around the zoo. This will create extra shade for visitors in the picnic areas and also for animals in their enclosures.

The second phase of the project, which is part of the National Grid’s Hinckley project, saw an additional 3,000 trees planted by the zoo in conjunction with Ground Control on behalf of National Grid.

The majority of these trees will form native hedgerows to act as windbreaks and wildlife corridors on the boundary of the zoo and also as between paddocks.

As part of the Hinckley project, Noah’s Ark is the largest single recipient of trees in the South West.

Larry Bush, Managing Director of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm said “Our tree planting initiative is a key part of our commitment to the environment as a green and sustainable zoo. Trees have so many environmental benefits including creating clean air, reducing the impact of climate change and of course providing habitats for native wildlife.

"During the past two decades we’ve planted over 45,000 trees across our 200-acre zoo and farm to provide a lasting legacy for the environment.”