IT is an irony that for the curator of plants and gardens at Paignton Zoo 'all animals are pests'. He said: 'I have to say that I don't like them very much, but I suppose that I don't mind insects.' The work of Ian Turner and his team has been put in the spotlight this summer with two evening botanical tours. Most visitors to Paignton Zoo environmental park are attracted by the animals and, though the wonderfully-naturalistic grounds are much appreciated, they are, shall we say, somewhat underrated. Some would say that the key to successful horticulture is that the planting does not stand out. But when there are so many wonderful specimens on show it is a shame to leave them in the shadows. The two-night event this year follows one successful evening last year. 'We could have had many more evenings on the strength of bookings, but we thought we'd see how it goes this year,' said zoo spokesman Philip Knowling. 'But it is wonderful that there is so much interest. Many people forget that this was a zoo and botanical garden from the word go so we want to even out the balance a bit,' he said. Indeed, walking around the grounds as the sun goes down accompanied by the peacock cries and the roar of a lion from far off in the distance (eek) adds quite another dimension. There is a serenity about the place that so often eludes the daytime visitor. And indeed, the opportunity to learn from such an enthusiastic host is quite a privilege. Ian started out as a maths undergraduate at Cambridge University before coming to the startling revelation that 'maths is boring!' He soon changed tack and after a three-year stint learning at the famous gardens at Kew, he went on to work at Staunton County Park, Hampshire, before his move to Paignton. He has been on the staff for 10 years and his love of the place clearly shows. The planting of the tropics and desert houses has been a passion for him and his team. 'I was given a budget of £25,000 for the tropics house but there is nothing more important than good soil and compost. So we blew the budget on that and all the plants here have either been donated or grown from seed or cuttings.' The first thing visitors are greeted with at this time of year is a Cavendish banana (Muse cavendishii) that is bearing fruit. It is quite depleted now by over enthusiastic visitors taking a keepsake. 'I do not mind that at all,' said Ian. 'Because at least children, and adults even, are engaging with the plant. That is so important at a time when most think that bananas are grown in cellophane wrap,' he said. There are some magnificent specimens in the house itself. A weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) that most keep as a houseplant has almost reached the roof. Coffee and cocoa plants can also be seen growing happily. But probably the most extraordinary is the Giant bamboo. It grows up to 100cm per day, that's 1mm every five seconds. It takes the energy from the heat and light during the day and makes its growth spurts during the night. But in an atmosphere that is at times almost 100 humidity and at least 20°C, pests and diseases should be a problem. 'But we don't have any in here. No aphids, mealy bugs or red spider mites and that's because the birds in here do a good job,' said Ian. In the adjoining desert house, visitors are treated to a dry riverbed scene complete with parrots and guinea pigs. The planting here is more plentiful than in reality but the succulents are quite extraordinary. It is here that visitors are treated to the Sisal (Agave sisalana). After about five years' growth it flowers just once and dies. It is just about to flower now. It will spread its seed to create new plants or produce offshoots. Pests are more prevalent here. 'Those colourful flying pests known as parrots peck at the plants and the guinea pigs seem to risk the spines to eat at the cacti. 'There is not much we can do about that but we do have mealy bug here. We have tried biological control but it is just too cold,' said Ian. Out onto the Mediterranean garden with plant collections from all over the world including America, the Med basin and even Australia. These have to put up with the character of Torbay's weather conditions and most are fairing well. But the soil has to be modified to help the plants along. The Australian garden has been double dug with huge amounts of gravel to replicate the sharply drained soil that the plants are used to. It is here and also the medicinal garden near the veterinary centre that is most relevant to Devon's gardeners. It shows what can survive in these temperatures and conditions. But the botanical element is not just a showcase for planting. The team engage in scientific research and conservation work for the species here. Indeed, the medicinal garden with a plethora of plants for everything from bowel complaints to circulation is part of the ongoing research. 'If you consider hat 40 per cent of modern medicine is derived from plants, the benefits of studying then and conserving them is really important. 'If one species dies out without us knowing anything about it then potentially we have lost a cure for a type of cancer,' he said. The passion for plants is opened up to a forum of experts later in the evening with a gardener's question time session. Timid at first, visitors are soon quizzing the team from local nurseries, botanists and gardeners about their own garden problems. 'Sometimes these evenings over run,' said spokesman Philip Knowling. 'It is always the way when people are so passionate, get talking about a subject that they love the most.'
