Zoo supports Chelsea!

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park has teamed up with a major local horticultural company as they take to the international stage.

The Zoo - which is a botanical as well as a zoological garden - has been helping to grow plants for the Suttons Seeds Chelsea Flower Show garden.

Paignton Zoo Curator of Plants and Gardens Kevin Frediani said: "We have been trialling plants for Suttons Seeds. They were intrigued by our experimental vertical farming system and asked if we would like to become a partner in the Chelsea garden and grow plants for it on the VertiCrop system."

The theme of the 2013 show is 100 years of gardening, to mark the centenary of the Royal Horticultural Society. The Suttons Seeds garden is called 'The Secret Garden Of Past & Present'. The modern part of the garden features a geodesic dome supplied by Solardome Industries, an aquaponics system (combining fish and plants) from Hydrogarden and the plants grown by Paignton Zoo.

Kevin: "We have grown all the hydroponic plants for the garden of the future section, showcasing food production with reduced environmental impact. These leafy salad crops were grown in the original VertiCrop and in our new vertical farming installation, known as the Cube.

"This is a great opportunity for us to highlight the pioneering work we have been doing at the Zoo. We are helping to develop a whole new way of providing fresh vegetables for urban populations using less water and less energy and with far fewer food miles by growing it close to where people live and work."

This is believed to be only the second time a zoo has appeared at the show. Kevin and gardener Mike Phillips - Paignton Zoo's vertical gardening expert - are attending the show. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 0844 474 2222.