subject: Saving The Tropical Realm At Chester Zoo. [print this page] Chester Zoo is a zoological garden at Upton-by-Chester, in Cheshire, England. George Mottershead opened it in 1931. The zoo is enormous at 111 acres (45 ha). The zoo has a total land holding of approximately 400 acres (160 ha).
Chester Zoo is currently operated by the North of England Zoological Society, a registered charity founded in 1934. No money is given from the Government. It is the most-visited wildlife attraction in Britain with more than 1.3 million visitors in 2007.
Chester's Tropical Realm is Britain's largest tropical house at over 26,000 cubic metres. The building is about 60 feet high, 200 feet wide, and 250 feet long. This spectacular structure first opened in 1964, most of the interior is an open-plan space extending to roof level and themed with pools and mature tropical plants, with pathways for visitors through the undergrowth. There are over 30 types of bird in the building. Encircling the edges of the building there are Aviaries and vivaria. The Tropical Realm is also the centre of the reptile collection. Water, too, plays a big part in establishing the atmosphere of the Tropical Realm: theres a massive waterfall plunging into a pond close to the entrance its the noise as much as anything else which is striking.
Having been open for more than fifty years, the construction, notably the roof was undoubtedly in need of some renovation. A critical roof refurbishment project meant that only the best products could be considered. The animals underneath the roof could not be upset whilst the roof was rewaterproofed. It was important for the roof to be waterproofed well - one man-made waterfall is quite enough for the Tropical Realm! Exposure to rainfall and the British climate could be fatal to some of the plants and animals of this tropical house. In February 2011 Acrypol + was applied to 500SqM of roof area as part of a major refurbishment which has resulted in the best possible tropical environment, enhanced climate control and reduced fuel costs for the zoo.
Although it is several decades old, Chesters Tropical House is still one of the most exciting animal houses in a British zoo. It is large enough and full enough to merit a visit to the zoo in itself, and on a chilly day countless hours might merrily be spent within it.
