Chester Zoo plants thousands of trees

<p>Chester’s iconic zoo has planted 19,000 trees on some of its land in Upton to create a new wildlife sanctuary.<br /><br />The new sanctuary has repurposed a field that was previously used for silage and, therefore, had limited biodiversity. The transformation is part of wider efforts to establish a corridor for UK wildlife across the area. It is the largest project to create a habitat that Chester Zoo has undertaken so far, with the site spanning more than nine hectares.<br /><br />Hazel, beech and oak trees are among the various broadleaf UK-native tree species that were planted. The tree mix was selected to make the new wood resilient to climate change, as well as also encouraging biodiversity. The trees have also been arranged to allow for some glades and meadows to form and support birds, small animals and butterflies. The new trees will also serve to link two smaller existing woods to make a continuous woodland.<br /><br />Chester Zoo’s director of science and policy, Dr Simon Dowell, said that Cheshire had below-average woodland cover, so it was: <br /></p><blockquote>“…important, and so exciting, to have created such a valuable new habitat here at the zoo. Once established, this woodland will provide a richer and more diverse habitat for a range of species, drawing in the likes of green woodpeckers, badgers, harvest mice and butterflies such as the speckled wood.”<br /></blockquote><p>Chester Zoo and its conservation work is one of Chester’s many gems. If you’ve been attracted to come and work in the city, you can find young professional accommodation in Chester at affordable rates.</p>