Client |
| Twycross Zoo |
Architect |
| Alan Brough |
Quantity Surveyor |
| GG & P UK Ltd |
Twycross Zoo
This unique project involved the re-landscaping of the elephant paddock at Twycross Zoo in Warwickshire. Originally the elephant paddock was a mound of mud with a dug out moat surrounding the area.
Midlands construction contractor GF Tomlinson & Sons carried out the work, which consisted of removing 3000 cubic metres of soil and the re-moulding of the paddock. An 8ft deep moat was dug out surrounding the paddock, which stops the elephants from escaping. The moat was lined with concrete and sealed with a waterproof coating.
Dead trees were placed strategically around the enclosure in line with zoologists requests. There are also 13 15-tonne boulders secured within the enclosure. The boulders had to be this heavy so that the elephants would not be able to manoeuvre them.
A pen feature was also incorporated into the construction project, which allows the zoo keepers to move the elephants out of the elephant house and into the enclosure safely. This involved steel gates and steel wire fencing to surround the elephant house. The paddock was also covered with 1100 cubic metres of specialist sand.
The moat took approximately 3 days to fill and required 170,000 gallons of water.
This project quite literally took place in a live occupied environment, with the elephants walking through the project twice a day.