Address and contact details
	Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, CH2 1LH
	Tel: 01244 650236
	Fax: 01244 381352
	Email: m.sparrow@chesterzoo.org
	Web site: www.chesterzoo.org
	Latitude: 53° 13' 27" N
	Longitude: 02° 52' 38" W
Background to the collection
Year founded:	1934
Ownership:	North of England Zoological Society
Umbrella organisation:	PlantNetwork, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, AZH, EZG
Personnel
Director:	Professor Gordon McGregor Reid
Curator of Horticulture:	Mark Sparrow
Contact person:	Mark Sparrow
Total Staff:	250
Total Horticultural Staff:	16
Policies
Accessions:	To grow a range of plants that contribute to the Zoo's mission: " To be a major force in conserving biodiversity worldwide"
Collections:	To grow a wide collection of plants with a emphasis on those of conservation and educational importance
Physical environment
Altitude:	40m
Soil type:	Clay
Total area:	40 ha
Area heated:	1 hectare
Plant collection
Geographical area(s) of specialisation:
	South America, China, New Zealand
Special families within the collections:
	Gramineae, Orchidaceae (joint NCCPG collection holders for Pleurothallidinae), Cactaceae
Special genera within the collections:
	Strombocactaceae genera; Copiapoa, Dracula, Mammillaria, Masdevallia, Matucana, Pleorothallis, Restrepia, Turbinicarpus.
TARGET 8 SPECIES:
TARGET 8 PROJECT TAXON LIST       UK Red Data List 2005 SAP lead partner WELSH Red Data List 2008 IRISH Red Data List 1987 IRISH Red Data List 2005 TARGET 8 PROJECT datasheet Garden(s) Calamagrostis stricta Narrow Small-reed B I VU VU EN T8 Chester Zoo Cerastium alpinum Alpine Mouse-ear B W VU CR T8 Ness Chester Zoo Cotoneaster cambricus Cotoneaster integerrimus B CR UKSAP CC Wales Ness CR T8 Ness Chester Zoo NBG Wales Damasonium alisma Starfruit B CR UKSAP Plantlife T8 Ness Chester Zoo Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Frogbit B W I VU NT T8 Chester Zoo Luronium natans Floating Water-plantain B W I LC UKSAP British Waterways prop Ness Chester Zoo Potamogeton compressus Grass-wrack Pondweed B W EN UKSAP British Waterways VU T8 Ness Chester Zoo Salix lapponum Downy Willow B VU T8 Dundee BG RBG Dawyck Ness Chester Zoo
Record Keeping:	Records kept Computerised
Record System:	Demeter; Own system
Plant-collecting trips:	No
Facilities on site
Herbarium:	Not at this time
Library:	Yes
Research facilities:	No
Publications:	No
Identifications:	No
Teaching and Education:	Plant material is used in public education, also for school's education programmes
Interpretation:	Themed plant displays are interpreted, some important plants interpreted, plus in the summer months plant talks are given to the public
Friends Organisation:	No
Visitor facilities:	Gift Shops, Restaurants
Access to the collections
Public access:	Admission charge
Location map

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