Meet the Attraction: Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm

North Somerset is home to many wonderful and unique businesses and organisations. This month, we’re delighted to introduce Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm!

How did Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm start, and how has it developed?
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm was founded by dairy farmers Anthony and Christina Bush. In 1999, they transformed their farm into a visitor centre, which quickly became a favourite destination for families. Over the years, it evolved into an award-winning zoo and one of Somerset’s most popular visitor attractions.

The founder’s vision to connect people with nature, provide fun and refreshing experiences, and offer educational inspiration remains at the heart of the zoo’s mission, which is now being carried forward through its new status as a charity.

The zoo is currently run by their son, Larry Bush, who has been the Zoo Director since 2019. Under his leadership, Noah’s Ark has undergone a significant transition, including becoming a charity in 2023. This change ensures the zoo’s long-term sustainability, enabling it to further its conservation and education programs while continuing to delight visitors. Admission fees now directly support vital conservation work, both locally and globally.

Why did you decide to base yourself in North Somerset?
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is built on the original farm site owned by its founders. Our location in North Somerset offers both the tranquillity of the Somerset countryside and proximity to key transport links, including easy access to Bristol. The natural landscape of North Somerset provides a perfect environment for a zoo focused on connecting people to wildlife and nature.

How do you attract talented staff?

We offer a unique and diverse work environment that blends a wide variety of skills and expertise. Our staff are drawn to the zoo’s exciting opportunities for growth, development, and hands-on conservation work, particularly as we are now an internationally known conservation charity.

Noah’s Ark is an exciting place to work, especially for those passionate about conservation, education, and animal welfare. Our team’s diverse talents and dedication are key to our success.

What have been your biggest challenges?

Some of our biggest challenges have included overcoming common misconceptions about zoos and educating the public about the important conservation and educational work we do.

We’ve worked hard to change misconceptions that we’re a Christian Zoo. Noah’s Ark was started in 1999 with the notion of providing a great day out for visitors to enjoy the natural world and learn about animals and farming. The Zoo’s founders are practising Christians who had the idea of making a farm park themed around the Biblical story of Noah and the Ark. However, our education programme has always been based on the national curriculum and accepted science, and we hold the national Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge,

As a charity, established in 2023, we have a new set of values which reflect our ideals and heritage. They underpin everything we do, making sure we provide our visitors with a fantastic, safe and inclusive day out, surrounded by happy and healthy animals. Our Christian ethos stands as a foundation to all the work we do.

Additionally, being a largely outdoor attraction, we have to keep an eye on the weather, as it can impact visitor numbers significantly. Like many tourist attractions, we have the challenge of seasonality in terms of peak and shoulder seasons. We can get very busy in the summer months and quieter in the autumn and winter, which is a financial challenge. However, we’re finding creative ways to boost our quieter periods through offers, events and engaging marketing.

What are your plans for the future?
Our primary focus is on advancing our charitable aims. As a newly established charity, we are committed to furthering our conservation and education initiatives, both locally and internationally, and our special focus on people. We aim to continue supporting endangered species, expanding our educational outreach, and fostering community engagement. Our goal is to create a positive, lasting impact on wildlife conservation and inspire the next generation of curious minds to care for the natural world.

We have recently established 3 key priority pillars for the zoo which are explained in our new strategy. These are conservation, education and wellbeing. Over the next 5 years and beyond, we’re going to increase our focus on both local and global conservation, partnerships and people.

In practise, this will look like further development of the zoo, new animals and exhibits, more accessible play facilities and enhanced and interactive learnings opportunities. We’ll also build stronger links to the local community, offering opportunities for groups to use and benefit from our green spaces. We’ll be publishing updates on all of this as we move forward with our plans.

What have been your proudest moments?

We are incredibly proud of becoming a charity in April last year, marking a significant milestone in our journey. This transition allows us to expand our conservation efforts and impact and secure the long-term future of the zoo.

Other proud moments include opening Elephant Eden (the largest elephant enclosure in the United Kingdom) 10 years ago, winning national Gold in Accessible Tourism with Visit England last year, and celebrating our 25th anniversary this year. We are also pleased with our contributions to wildlife conservation, particularly supporting the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society by funding tracking collars to monitor Andean bears in the wild. Additionally, many of our species are part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), which helps protect and breed endangered animals.

We have much more to do and some exciting plans and are looking forward to developing our work to benefit animals, people and the planet.

How have the Economy Team supported you, and what support would you like moving forward?
The Economy Team has been a great support, helping to promote our events and highlighting the zoo as a key part of the region’s tourism and economic landscape. This enables more visitors to know about the zoo and our work and also connects us with strategic partners in the region, which offers reciprocal benefits to local businesses and community organisations. Moving forward, we would appreciate continued collaboration in showcasing our conservation work and events to a broader audience, ensuring that Noah’s Ark remains a standout attraction in the region.