Europe’s Only Willow Plantation for Elephants Reopens

After a period of regeneration, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm’s five African bull elephants are once again exploring their unique 5,000 square metre willow plantation.

Janu, the dominant male of the bachelor group, led the way as the plantation reopened, followed by other members of the herd. All five elephants will have the opportunity to explore the plantation as access is rotated, giving them the chance to investigate the regenerated vegetation at their own pace.

Located within Elephant Eden in North Somerset, the plantation is the first of its kind in the UK and the only one in Europe, providing a large area of dense woodland within the elephants’ expansive habitat.

The plantation was first opened to the elephants in 2022 following almost a decade of planning and growth. Since then, the bulls’ natural feeding and browsing behaviours have significantly shaped the landscape. The plantation is therefore periodically rested, allowing the vegetation to recover before the elephants return.

Willow, aspen and poplar trees, alongside self-seeded trees, bushes and other elephant-friendly vegetation, have now had time to regenerate, creating a diverse and changing source of natural browse.

African elephants can spend many hours of the day feeding, browsing and foraging. Their size and natural behaviours also have a significant impact on the landscape around them, making the plantation a constantly evolving part of their habitat.

Tom Lindley, our Elephant Section Leader at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, said:

“The plantation has changed significantly since the elephants last had access to it, so it has been fascinating to watch them explore it again. With the current heatwave, it’s particularly great to see them enjoying the lush vegetation and making the most of the cool, green environment.

African elephants are incredibly effective at shaping their environment. They browse, strip bark, break branches and feed their way through vegetation, so giving the plantation time to regenerate means that when they return, there is plenty of new growth for them to investigate.

It will also be lovely to see our two newest bulls, Impi and Mchumba, exploring the plantation. They’ve been settling into the bachelor group really well since arriving in May, and having the opportunity to explore different areas of their habitat is an important part of becoming familiar with their new surroundings.”

Find out more about our African Elephants