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As a large, popular visitor attraction we place heavy demand on a variety of resources- particularly energy and construction materials and produce substantial quantities of waste. We thus have a responsibility to conduct our business in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Noah's Ark has made a committment to sustainability and has already been recognised for achievement in this area with the GTBS Silver Award.
As a team we strive to conduct our daily business practises in an environmentally sustainable fashion- this is an area we are aiming to continually improve and look to develop, moving forward as a growing visitor attraction.
Our business is split into five departments (the Animal Team, Grounds Team, Electrical, Buildings and Office teams). We have formed a specific ‘Green Team’ which manages green issues, monitoring and planning/development of new projects and initiatives; a member from each department forms this group, led by our Conservation Officer (Head Groundsman). We encourage input from all employees and look to inform our staff on news in this area of business.
We conduct business 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 separate departments to monitor progress and confirm we are advancing in this area.
Each departmental team has been given a set of criteria to address concerning environmental good-practise in work they carry out; distributed Spring 2009 in preparation for our Autumn audit by GTBS officials. Relevant work was completed by the October deadline.
The result of our first GTBS inspection was the admirable achievement of the Silver Award. We look to work towards further waste minimisation and energy efficiency (particularly lighting) in due course, as encouraged by the Green Tourism Business Scheme Report for our business (Nov 09).
All relevant documentation (including a full Green Policy, of which this is part), can be viewed by our suppliers or business associates if appropriate, on request.
Renewable Energy:
March 2009 saw the installation of the first of a planned series of wind turbines to produce energy for the site. The 'Proven' 15kW, 15m turbine harnesses wind power from the open, often turbulent fields behind the farm, converting this to electricity for use around the site, in the office and in 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 altogether 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 Zoo Farm. 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. The still water contains less oxygen than the streams, so different species live here. The scrub around the edge also provides ideal nest sites for ducks.
- 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 in hiding 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 Noah's Ark Zoo Farms 'Green Action Plan'.
Public "Top 10 Tips" for being greener....learn how simple measures can be effective in the long term to help you reduce your impact on the environment.
Noah's Ark have gone a step further in this area, with the new 1 acre tiger territory built to include several key green features. See the tiger enclosure plan for more info.
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