
Storm Darragh splits apart ancient tree at Paignton Zoo
Paignton Zoo has been dealt another devastating blow after Storm Darragh ripped apart one of its historic trees. A towering beech, estimated to be over two hundred years old, was severely damaged by the extreme gales this weekend, crushing a wooden hut in its wake.
This is the third instance of extreme weather damaging iconic trees at Wild Planet Trust, the charity behind Paignton Zoo, in 2024. Earlier this year, a veteran cherry tree and an ancient oak were lost, and over the weekend, a mature larch tree was uprooted and a poplar tree at Newquay Zoo was completely felled.
Catherine Mortimer, Curator of Gardens for Wild Planet Trust, commented:
“Sadly, with these extreme weather events becoming more common, we expect that we will continue to lose more of these very old trees. One of the reasons we made the decision to close the zoos on Saturday was due to the risk posed by branches being blown off and potentially hitting someone.”
The decision to close was not made lightly, as the Trust have been open about the financial challenges they have faced recently and the closure resulted in the loss of much needed revenue. However, the zoo staff are ever resourceful, and keepers have already put the fallen beech to good use, using branches for perches and animal enrichment. As beeches are edible and highly nutritious for certain species, some smaller branches have also been shared with the zoo’s animals, including Manny the black rhino.
Catherine continued:
“While it is a shame to see these trees damaged, we have a motto that ‘nothing goes to waste’ and will make sure that we salvage as much as we can for our animals.”
As part of Wild Planet Trust, a conservation charity with a mission to help halt species decline, Paignton and Newquay zoos’ gardens team are committed to replenishing the habitat by cultivating new trees. Paignton Zoo’s gardens won a Britain in Bloom Gold Award this year. The gardens are an integral part of the zoos, providing both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits. They support native species and provide nourishment for the animals, with a number of browse plantations dotted around both sites.
To help ensure the survival of our natural world, you can support organisations like Wild Planet Trust that are working to protect wildlife and their habitats. To donate to the Trust, or volunteer at the zoo, please visit: https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/support-us/
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