Creating a More Sensory-Friendly Zoo

At Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, we believe that nature and wildlife should be accessible to everyone. This Autism Acceptance Month, we’re reflecting on the journey we’ve been on over the past year to make visits more comfortable and inclusive for people with additional sensory needs.

Accessibility is an ongoing journey, and one of the most important steps we have taken is simply listening.

Over the past year, we have sought feedback from families who already visit us, as well as people who would love to visit but currently find environments like zoos overwhelming. Their experiences and insights have helped shape the improvements we’re making across the zoo.

Helping visitors feel prepared

For many autistic people and those with sensory sensitivities, knowing what to expect can make a huge difference to feeling comfortable and confident about visiting somewhere new.

That’s why we have created a new Sensory Guide to help visitors plan their day in advance. The guide explains what different areas of the zoo might feel like and highlights places that may include:

• Loud noises
• Busy or crowded areas
• Strong smells

Throughout the zoo, visitors will also start to see sensory signage that highlights environments with unusual sensory experiences, helping families make choices about where they feel most comfortable exploring.

A more inclusive website

We’ve also taken steps to make our website more accessible, so visitors can plan their day with confidence before they arrive.

We’ve introduced the Recite Me toolbar, a powerful tool designed to support a wide range of access needs. This feature allows visitors to customise how they experience our website in a way that works best for them.

With Recite Me, users can:

• Listen to website content read aloud
• Change text size, colour and font for improved readability
• Use reading aids such as screen masks and rulers
• Translate content into over 130 languages

These tools are particularly helpful for people with dyslexia, visual impairments, autism, or for those who speak English as an additional language.

By making our website more accessible, we hope to remove barriers at the very first stage of the visitor journey, helping everyone feel informed, prepared and welcome before they even step through our gates.

New sensory-friendly resources

We have also introduced a range of new resources designed to support visitors who may need a little extra help during their visit.

These include:

• Sensory bags available to hire from the ticket office containing Fidget toys, ear defenders and sensory guides – with some of these items kindly donated by Keycraft and xx
• Ear defenders available in key locations, including the classroom and tractor ride
• Sensory maps to help visitors understand the environment around the zoo

These tools allow visitors to manage their sensory experience in a way that works best for them.

Supporting our team to support our visitors

Creating a welcoming environment is about more than just physical resources — it’s also about the people who make up our team.

Over the past year our staff have received additional training around hidden disabilities, helping them better understand the wide range of needs our visitors may have.

We have also welcomed Makaton tutors to the zoo so our team could learn some basic Makaton signs. This helps us communicate more inclusively and ensures that more visitors feel seen, understood and supported during their visit.

Continuing to listen and improve

Autism Acceptance Month is an important reminder that accessibility isn’t a finished project it’s something we continue to learn about every day.

We know there is always more we can do, and we will keep listening to the people who help guide us. Their experiences help us shape a zoo where more families can relax, explore and connect with nature together.

If you have feedback about how we can continue improving accessibility at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, we would love to hear from you.

Together, we can help make the zoo a place where everyone feels welcome.