Green practise at Noah's Ark

Working with the public for a sustainable future.

As a large, popular visitor attraction we place heavy demand on a variety of resources - particularly energy and construction materials - and we produce substantial quantities of waste. We have a responsibility to conduct our business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Noah's Ark has made a committment to sustainability, recognised with the GTBS Silver Award.

Some useful green documents are available to download at the bottom of this page.

For information on using sustainable transport to reach Noah's Ark for your visit, click here.

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm
Green Policy Statement (2011)

Our Commitment:

As a team we strive to conduct our daily business practises in an environmentally sustainable fashion - this is an area we look to continually improve and develop, moving forward as a growing visitor attraction.

Our business is split into five departments (the Animal, Grounds, Electrical, Buildings and Office Teams). We have formed a specific 'Green Team' which manages green issues; including the planning and monitoring of projects and initiatives. A member from each department forms this group, led by our Conservation Officer. We encourage input from all employees and look to inform our staff on news in this area of our business.

We work in line with relevant Government and local Council regulations concerning the disposal of all waste products, including the WEEE Directive for electrical equipment. We conduct bi-annual reviews of specific green criteria set to our Teams to monitor progress and confirm we are advancing in this area.

The green criteria promotes environmental good-practise in the work of each Team, part of our preparation for a second audit by the GTBS.

After the success of our first GTBS inspection, we are now targeting further waste minimisation and energy efficiency (particularly lighting) as encouraged by the audit Report (Nov '09). 2011 has also seen a big push towards encouraging the use of sustainable transport amongst our visitors, assisted by new signage and informative displays around our site.

All relevant documents (including a full Green Policy, of which this is part), can be viewed by our suppliers or business associates on request, if appropriate.

Local conservation at our Zoo Farm:

Renewable Energy:

March 2009 saw the installation of our first wind turbine to produce energy for the site. The 'Proven' 15kW, 15m turbine harnesses wind power from open fields behind the farm, converting this to electricity for use around site, including the office and animal housing.

Wind energy is safe, fairly continuous and can be stored. Any excess energy can be sold back into the National Grid, helping to reduce costs.

Local Wildlife:

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm covers 310 acres of land just outside Bristol. This land includes many different types of habitat that support a diverse range of species.

• Streams: Two streams run through Noah's Ark. The water is continually moving, and contains a high level of oxygen. Organisms that live in streams often anchor themselves to rocks to prevent them being washed downstream.
  
  
• Ponds: There are two ponds at the Zoo Farm, which support a variety of plants both submerged and floating and an abundance of aquatic invertebrates. The still water contains less oxygen than the streams, so different species live here.
  
  
• Hedgerows: Hedgerows mark the edges of fields, and prevent domestic animals like sheep and cows from getting out. They are also important for wild animals such as birds, mammals and insects; many birds use hedges as nest sites, while mice and voles forage and hide from predators.
  
  
• Stone Walls: Besides hedges, stone walls are also used to mark boundaries. Crevices in these walls provide excellent hiding places for small insects, reptiles and even mammals. Mosses and small plants can also be found growing there.
  
  

Web-viewable and downloadable green documents:

Click to view our Green Policy 2011 in full (PDF)

Click to view our Conservation Strategy 2011 (PDF)

Click to view Noah's Ark Zoo Farms 'Green Action Plan' (PDF)

Click to view our Visitor Charter 2011 (PDF)

Public "Top 10 Tips" for being green....learn how simple measures can be effective to help you reduce your impact on the environment.

Noah's Ark is pleased to have incorporated several key green features into our new lion and tiger complex. See the tiger enclosure plan for more details.