Native Species Trail

Dearadh Zu was invited to work closely with the Hertfordshire Zoo creative team to develop landscape and habitat proposals for the Centre of Species Survival, otherwise known as the native species trail. This trail has been developed on an underused part of the site and creates an immersive connecting route from the World of Birds to the World of Animals. The proposals introduce large areas of colourful new planting, which includes a range of native species and pollinators promoting UK biodiversity.

The design of the pathways encourages users to slow down and look around at the beauty of UK native species. The development is full of creative ways to engage visitors about habitat conservation and also introduces several native reptile species that visitors may have never seen before.

Client
Hertfordshire Zoo

Location
Broxbourne, UK

Year
2023-2024

Dearadh Zu’s Role

Concept Design
Stakeholder Engagement & Workshops
Landscape & Exhibit Design
Soft Landscape design
3D model / CGI Visualisations

Project Features

Visitors enter the new area under a rustic timber archway that winds guests along a decorative concrete imprinted path. On each side of the pathway, native planting bursts into life, focusing on pollinator species that support our regional and native insect and butterfly species. Several large colourful butterfly sculptures are scattered throughout the landscape. A canopy of leaf-shaped shades guides visitors along the route, along which you will see educational information about bird boxes, bat boxes and other habitat homes that everyone can create at home to help their local wildlfie.

Sticking out proud of the lush planting sits several 2-3m tall habitat towers with green walls and green roofs; these are filled with a mix of materials such as pine cones, sticks, bamboo, timber, etc., providing lots of space for invertebrates. A second stepping stone pathway with imprints of UK species and footprint leads through the planting area, from which visitors can see the pond area. Along the route, there are several stopping points with ‘play along the way’ features to interact with, each linking to native species.

The project also includes three sizeable hexagonal glass habitats for UK native reptile species. Each habitat has been designed to evoke the landscape typology that species would live in naturally, such as sand dunes, moorland, and grassland habitats. These structures raised off the ground bring reptiles closer to the visitor's eye line, making this an unforgettable experience.