Our Story

Our work is to support, protect and care for the natural world, and to inspire people with a love of our planet and with hope for the future.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm became a charity on 5th April 2023, the award-winning zoo is set on a working farm in 100 acres of beautiful, peaceful North Somerset countryside located just 6 miles to the south of Bristol.

Opening for its first season as Noah’s Ark Farm Centre in 1999, visitors were able to get hands-on with bottle-feeding lambs and getting up close to both farm animals and exotic animals such as llamas, camels and wallabies. Tractor rides and playing in the hay barn were popular activities as they still are today.  

Now the zoo welcomes over 200,000 visitors a year and has an exciting, large animal collection of over one hundred species which includes African elephants, giraffe, lions, rhinos and spectacled bears. The original hands-on approach has continued and today visitors enjoy close encounters with some amazing animals.

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Our Story Exhibition

Step into our interactive exhibition space and discover the story of Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm – past, present and future. This engaging area brings our conservation work to life, from the rolling hills of North Somerset to the cloud forests of Peru, where we proudly support Spectacled Bear Conservation Society and their vital work protecting spectacled bears in the wild.

Through hands-on experiences, immersive storytelling and inspiring displays, visitors can explore how zoos play a meaningful role in protecting species and habitats across the globe. Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is a place for people of all backgrounds, faiths and beliefs to come together, learn and feel empowered by a shared responsibility — that by caring for the natural world, we can help create a better future for all life on our planet.

Conservation and Sustainability

  1. Breeding Spectacled Bear

    At Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, conservation, sustainability and animal welfare are at the heart of everything we do. As a conservation charity, we are committed to creating meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world, inspiring positive action for wildlife both locally and globally.

    Through daily Keeper Talks, curriculum-linked education workshops, interactive visitor experiences and community fundraising initiatives, we empower guests of all ages to learn about the challenges facing wildlife and how they can make a difference. We work closely with conservation partners in the UK and around the world, supporting projects that protect endangered species, restore habitats and promote coexistence between people and wildlife.

  2. Keeper Cormack Warwick Inspecting One Of Their Animal Section Nest Boxes Noahs Ark Zoo Farm Doug Evens

    Alongside our international conservation work, we are equally passionate about protecting native British wildlife and enhancing biodiversity across our own site. Through habitat creation, wildlife-friendly land management and sustainable farming practices, we aim to provide safe spaces for local species to thrive and encourage visitors to value the wildlife on their own doorstep. Set within a historic farming landscape in North Somerset, Noah’s Ark recognises the vital relationship between conservation, sustainable agriculture and responsible stewardship of the land for future generations.

  3. African Elephant - Shaka 2

    We are proud to care for a number of species participating in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), collaborating with leading zoos and conservation organisations across Europe to help safeguard vulnerable and endangered species through responsible breeding programmes and expert animal care.

    Noah’s Ark is also home to Elephant Eden, the largest elephant habitat in the UK and Northern Europe  purpose-built to provide outstanding welfare for our African savannah elephants and to inspire visitors to care about the future of this iconic species.

Zoe And Falcon

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is committed to being a leading sustainable and environmentally responsible zoo. Through ongoing investment in renewable energy and eco-conscious practices, we generate a significant proportion of our own electricity on site using solar energy and biomass systems, helping to reduce our environmental impact and support a greener future. Across the zoo, energy-efficient lighting also helps minimise energy consumption while creating welcoming spaces for visitors.

Sustainability is embedded throughout our day-to-day operations. We harvest and recycle rainwater from building roofs, repurpose and upcycle materials for animal enrichment including donated fire hoses and other reusable items and continually look for innovative ways to reduce waste across the site.

We are passionate about making responsible choices in our purchasing and partnerships. Wherever possible, we support local suppliers and source Fairtrade products across our cafés and gift shop, including coffee, chocolate, gifts and cotton products. We also prioritise recyclable, reusable and compostable packaging to help minimise waste and encourage more sustainable visitor choices.

Barn Owl (1)

Alongside caring for exotic and endangered species, we are equally committed to supporting biodiversity and protecting native British wildlife across our site through thoughtful land management and creation of animal habitats. We believe zoos have an important role to play not only in global conservation, but also in inspiring communities to care for the wildlife and environment around them every day.

Noah’s Ark has received regional and national recognition for its work in sustainability, education, animal welfare and tourism. We are proud members of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and are accredited by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, reflecting our commitment to high standards in conservation, education and visitor experience.

Schools & Education At Noah's Ark 

We aim to make Noah's Ark a place of joy, wonder, adventure and refreshment that supports the well-being of our visitors, staff and volunteers alike. Through education and outreach we aim to inspire and motivate this generation and the next to consider sustainable lifestyles and care for our planet. 

Educational field trips are a great way to learn and a day out at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm can provide learning opportunities for all ages and abilities. Our education programme is accredited by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom and our education material reflects the content of the National Curriculum.

We offer a comprehensive range of workshops, delivered with a hands-on focus which offers the opportunity to meet exciting animals up close. Our wide variety of teaching sessions and learning resources are designed to help you communicate the National Curriculum in a fun, exciting environment.

Zoo Education Noah's Ark Zoo Farm 1

Our experienced Education team are happy to discuss any bespoke workshop requirements. The Education Team at Noah's Ark pride themselves on delivering workshops that are appropriate to all audiences including those from multi-faith or non-religious backgrounds.

As members of BIAZA our education programme is independently audited each year and schools can be confident in the quality and professionalism that we offer.

For more information or to book a school trip to Noah's Ark, please contact the Education Department on 01275 852 606.

Anthony And Christina 1

The Founders

The zoo was founded by Anthony and Christina Bush, who have lived and worked on the site together as dairy farmers since 1962 when the original Moat House Farm was part of the Tyntesfield Estate. The couple first opened Noah’s Ark as a farm visitor centre in 1999 and it quickly became a favourite day out for visitors. It has since grown to become an award-winning zoo and one of the most popular visitor attractions in Somerset.  

Ab Cb Farm Auction

Christina and Anthony have always enjoyed welcoming individuals, families and schools to the Zoo and over the years have hosted countless events from picnics and nature trails through to barn dances. They have a large family with four children and fourteen grandchildren who still enjoy meeting up at the zoo and some are involved in working here as part of the team.

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