Hertfordshire Zoo is set to bloom with biodiversity after receiving a generous donation of 500 packets of wildflower seeds for an upcoming event. The Native Species Festival, which takes place from Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29, is designed to celebrate and promote native UK species.
Festival Highlights
Visitors will be able to enjoy a bug building demo talk twice daily so they can learn how they can help support the local ecosystem. Zoo staff will then hand out the packets of wildflower seeds for visitors to plant at home to boost local wildlife. The growth of wildflowers supports pollinators like bees and butterflies by creating essential habitats and food sources.
Donation and Impact
Ciara Duggan, species survival officer for the Centre for Species Survival UK at Hertfordshire Zoo, said: “We’re hugely thankful to Blue Diamond Garden Centres for their generous donation of native wildflower seeds for our Native Species Festival. This donation allows us to inspire both our visitors and the wider community to take simple, meaningful steps like planting wildflowers to help support local wildlife.”
The zoo proudly hosts the IUCN SSC (Species Survival Commission) Centre for Species Survival UK, a hub focused on conserving species across the UK and UK Overseas Territories in collaboration with wildlife and SSC experts.
Seed Selection and Conservation
The selection of seeds includes Corn Chamomile and Ragged-robin. Natural wildflower meadows are one of the rarest habitats in the UK, and 97 per cent have been lost since the 1930s.
Rebecca Gurnett, events manager at Blue Diamond Garden Centres, added: “We’re delighted to support Hertfordshire Zoo’s Native Species Festival with a donation of our own brand wildflower seeds. As a garden centre group, supporting nature and encouraging people to get growing is at the heart of what we do. It’s especially important to inspire children to plant and care for wildflowers, helping them connect with nature while supporting pollinators and local wildlife.”
Wildflower meadows help improve biodiversity and support the environment through carbon capture. They also provide essential food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and small mammals.
Visitors attending the festival will be able to take home a free packet of seeds while stocks last and create their own wildlife-friendly growing space at home.
