NOAH'S ARK ZOO FARM
Registered charity 1200719 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register
The advancement of environmental protection and improvement, in particular but not exclusively, by theoperation of a zoo; to support and promote the conservation of animals, wildlife and biodiversity in the UKand worldwide.To advance the education of the public in the subject of environmental protection and improvement and inparticular the conservation of animals, wildlife and biodiversity
Causes: Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit for the year, with total income of £4,771,579 and total expenditure of £4,948,935. The trustees note that free reserves were negative at £266,111, partly due to deferred income from memberships and investment in new habitats, but confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern.
Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Largest income source: Admissions (57% of income)
“The main source of income is from admissions which was £2,719,688” — page 11
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: three months of winter working capital requirements (held: £-266k)
“Our medium-term ambition is to grow our free reserves to a level sufficient to cover at least 3 months of winter working capital requirements.” — page 11
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Rent paid to Moatwell Holdings Ltd, a company where CEO L Bush is a director and shareholder.
“L Bush is a director and shareholder of Moatwell Holdings Ltd. During the year the Charity paid rent to Moatwell Holdings Ltd of £303,000 (2023: £223,883). Independent valuers were instructed to advise on the level of rent. L Bush was not part of this work or associated meetings.” — page 40
“J Taylor, trustee, paid the subsidiary company, Noah’s Ark Zoo Enterprises Ltd, £4,031 for an event at the zoo in June 2024. This was at market rate.” — page 41
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee J Taylor paid subsidiary company for an event.
“L Bush is a director and shareholder of Moatwell Holdings Ltd. During the year the Charity paid rent to Moatwell Holdings Ltd of £303,000 (2023: £223,883). Independent valuers were instructed to advise on the level of rent. L Bush was not part of this work or associated meetings.” — page 40
“J Taylor, trustee, paid the subsidiary company, Noah’s Ark Zoo Enterprises Ltd, £4,031 for an event at the zoo in June 2024. This was at market rate.” — page 41
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations from trustees and close family members.
“L Bush is a director and shareholder of Moatwell Holdings Ltd. During the year the Charity paid rent to Moatwell Holdings Ltd of £303,000 (2023: £223,883). Independent valuers were instructed to advise on the level of rent. L Bush was not part of this work or associated meetings.” — page 40
“J Taylor, trustee, paid the subsidiary company, Noah’s Ark Zoo Enterprises Ltd, £4,031 for an event at the zoo in June 2024. This was at market rate.” — page 41
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Noah’s Ark Zoo Enterprises Ltd
“The trading activities, including the running of catering and retail activities are carried out through a wholly owned subsidiary, Noah’s Ark Zoo Enterprises Ltd.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts audited by Albert Goodman LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.
Corporate structure
NOAH'S ARK ZOO ENTERPRISES LIMITED — latest Companies House iXBRL filing (balance sheet 2025-12-31)
- Equity: £100
- Average employees: 61
NOAH'S ARK ZOO ENTERPRISES LIMITED — per its own Companies House accounts
- Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £9k
- Creditors include £9,457 owed to group undertakings.
“Amounts owed to group undertakings and undertakings in which the company has a participating interest 9,457”
Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Noah's Ark Zoo Farm (matched by registered charity number).
Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Cost of raising funds
£1.1m
Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (63% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.
Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 22.3% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2%) (benchmarks).
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Somerset
Income and spending
Common questions
Is NOAH'S ARK ZOO FARM financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit for the year, with total income of £4,771,579 and total expenditure of £4,948,935. The trustees note that free reserves were negative at £266,111, partly due to deferred income from memberships and investment in new habitats, but confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Albert Goodman LLP.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
Funders of similar charities
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Side by side with its peers
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