Award-winning zoo celebrates 25 years with the launch of new vision

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, the award-winning zoo and charity near Bristol, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new vision and the launch of an ambitious 5 year strategic plan.

Home of the big zoo animals, Noah’s Ark has grown from a family-run dairy farm to a modern conservation charity, with a focus on conservation, education, people and wellbeing.

Since Noah’s Ark opened in 1999, the zoo has welcomed over 3 million visitors and educated over 200,000 school children, offering award-winning accessibility and learning opportunities. Home to 120 different species, including 10 which are part of globally important conservation efforts, it cares for elephants – in the largest elephant habitat in the UK - lions, bears, giraffes, rhinos, 6 rare farm breeds, and many others.

As part of this special year, Noah’s Ark is reflecting on its unique past, celebrating its animals, park and people, and is looking ahead to the next phase of its journey with the launch of a new strategy.

The zoo’s management transitioned in 2019 with a new director taking the helm - Larry Bush, son of founders Anthony and Christina. It became a charity in 2023. Noah’s Ark’s leadership team has worked with trustees to develop a new vision for the future which will enable the zoo to realise its aspirations in conservation., education and visitor experience through to 2028 and beyond.

Embracing its distinctive heritage and striving to learn from the past to shape a brighter future, Noah’s Ark has taken its family farming and Christian roots to shape inclusive new values, which now underpin all the zoo’s operations.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm’s vision is to protect wildlife and the natural world and to provide an oasis of inspiration and hope for people. As it celebrates this milestone anniversary, Noah’s Ark is building on its strengths in welcoming and inspiring visitors and caring and protecting its animals. It has ambitious plans to develop its park, operations and infrastructure, grow its reach, develop new local and international partnerships, and ensure its future financial sustainability.

This will be realised through specific projects and developments at the zoo, including upgrades to facilities, a review of the animal collection plan, a greater focus on international conservation and expansion of the zoo’s education offering.

Visitors are invited to visit Noah’s Ark this summer to join in with the special anniversary celebrations and learn about the future plans. The zoo will be making some special upgrades to the park this year to give visitors even more to enjoy, as well as holding some fun events and activities.

Larry Bush, Zoo Director, expresses his excitement for the future of the zoo. "The 25-year journey so far has been incredible, and we’re eager to develop our impact into the future. We’re a modern, inclusive conservation zoo with a special focus on people. We’re continually learning and developing to give even more exciting experiences for visitors, to inspire and support an appreciation of our natural world.

“Our new, ambitious strategy will help us realise our vision over the next 5 years, with significant benefits locally, nationally, and internationally. We look forward expectantly to this new chapter in our story and invite our visitors and the general public to help shape it with us.”

Details of the new strategic plan can be found on the zoos website, along with a short film introducing the vision. Noah’s Ark will be sharing more information about its 25th anniversary celebrations and what’s happening at the zoo in the coming weeks.

Noah’s Ark welcomes feedback on their new vision, and invites opportunities for partnerships.