Gardeners at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park are helping to preserve an important
plant collection.
The National Collection of water irises has been built up by horticulturalists John
and Galen Carter, of Rowden Gardens near Tavistock, over 25 years. It is Britain's
only National Collection of water irises.
Specimens from the collection have been planted in a new wildlife water garden
outside Paignton Zoo's Amphibian Ark species rescue and reintroduction centre. In
time they will form a natural filtration system to clean the water in the ponds,
taking the place of a mechanical filtering process.
The task to maintain and show the collection to the public has not been undertaken
lightly. With 120 accessions and three replicates of each, the Zoo has nearly 400
new plants to house. 41 of the hybrids will be on show, while the whole collection
will be propagated and transferred to behind-the-scenes facilities over the next two
seasons.
John Carter: "The collection contains more plants and a wider range of colours than
most people will have seen. We are losing more and more of our garden varieties. The
collection has not only a major conservation role but also a very necessary
educational one as well."
Paignton Zoo Curator of Plants and Gardens Kevin Frediani said: "We are very pleased
to be taking on this incredible collection. The Carters are anxious that when they
retire these valuable plants are conserved.
They are very grateful for Paignton
Zoo's offer of support for the preservation of this important and significant
resource, which will be saved for cultivation in the future.
"We are having to create new places to keep the collection and learn new techniques.
It will take two years to transfer the collection and to learn how to propagate,
cultivate and maintain the plants. We have to ensure they stay true to type and do
not hybridise.
"We are indebted to the support and mentoring that John and Galen have provided to us. The level of knowledge they have is as important as the plants they have
nurtured."
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to
www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring (01803) 697500.
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