Folly Farm

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo is a significant visitor attraction located to the north of Saundersfoot and Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Drawing approximately 500,000 visitors annually, it has evolved from its origins as a dairy farm into a multifaceted destination offering a blend of agricultural heritage, zoological exhibits, and vintage entertainment.

History and Development

The establishment of Folly Farm as a tourist destination began in 1988 when farmers Glyndŵr and Anne Williams decided to diversify their dairy farm operations. Noticing public interest in their cattle, they opened the farm to visitors, allowing them to observe daily activities like milking. This initial venture proved successful, and over the subsequent years, Folly Farm underwent significant expansion through continuous reinvestment. The addition of zoo animals commenced in 2002, marking a pivotal step in its transformation.

Folly Farm has garnered recognition for its quality, having won the Wales Tourist Board's Best Day Out in Wales award in 2005, 2010, and 2015. It also received Pembrokeshire Tourism's Best Family Day Out award in 2009 and was ranked 10th best zoo globally in the 2017 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards.

Attractions and Animal Collections

The park is structured into distinct areas, including a farmyard, a zoo, and an indoor vintage funfair complete with a Wurlitzer organ. The farmyard features a large undercover Jolly Barn area with horses, goats, sheep, pigs, and other smaller petting animals. The zoo collection boasts over 200 different species of animals, housed in various specialized enclosures.

Notable among its zoological features are:

• Pride of Pembrokeshire: Opened in 2014, this lion reserve earned a silver award for Best Enclosure Design from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is home to African lions, including Hugo and Luna, and their offspring.
• Penguin Coast: Established in 2013, this state-of-the-art saltwater enclosure houses Humboldt and Macaroni penguins. It notably provides a home for a vulnerable population of these species in the UK.
• Kifaru Reserve: This five-and-a-half-acre facility, opened in 2015, serves as a crucial breeding site for critically endangered eastern black rhinos as part of European Endangered Species Breeding Programmes. It has successfully seen the birth of the first rhino in Wales, named Glyndŵr.
• Asian Adventure: Launched in 2019, this enclosure is dedicated to endangered Asian species, including dholes, white-naped cranes, great white pelicans, and a breeding pair of red pandas.

Conservation Efforts

Folly Farm is actively involved in wildlife conservation and is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). The zoo participates in European breeding programs for critically endangered species, most notably the eastern black rhino, demonstrating a commitment to protecting vulnerable wildlife.

Operations

Folly Farm operates as a limited company and is owned and managed by the Williams and Ebsworth families. It employs 90 full-time staff and an additional 100 seasonal workers, holding Investors in People status.