A determined eight-year-old has officially re-opened a popular zoo farm – after she single-handedly raised enough money to feed all of its animals for a month.
Polly Robertson set herself the challenge of raising £100 to help Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm feed its animals during lockdown.
Polly always visits Noah’s Ark on her birthday in April to see the zebras – her favourite animal.
But this year, due to the zoo being closed due to lockdown, she was unable to enjoy her birthday treat.
Understanding her disappointment, Polly the zebra wrote to her namesake, saying how disappointed she was that she couldn’t visit and hoped she would come back when Noah’s Ark re-opened.
After reading the letter and seeing how the zoo farm had launched a public appeal to raise £8,000 to cover the costs of feeding the animals during lockdown, animal-loving Polly decided to act.
She set herself the challenge of walking 64 miles, the distance between her home in Herefordshire and the zoo farm in Wraxall, to raise £100.
But when she featured on BBC 2’s Jeremy Vine Show to talk about her challenge, her cash pot started to soar
Polly told Mr Vine how she wanted to do something to help feed the animals at the zoo after she missed her birthday visit to see the zebras.
After her appearance, her JustGiving page shot up to almost £11,000 – more than covering the £8,000 the zoo had hoped to raise.
The zoo, which has been closed for 88 days, opened again today – with Polly as the guest of honour.
Polly, who has been given a membership to the zoo farm, said: “I have been walking one mile every day, in the woods and rivers near my home to help feed Polly and the animals.
"Zebras are always my favourite.
"I have lots of zebra things in my room and pyjamas and clothes.
"Today, I opened the zoo, which was really exciting. I only wanted to raise £100 but am really happy I’ve raised so much money for the zebras."
Polly is still walking a mile a day to complete her challenge.
Proud mum Sarah said: "Polly is still going strong, enjoying her challenge and is hoping to get to meet Polly the Zebra next month, when she reaches 64 miles.
She had no idea she was going to be re-opening the zoo today and was so excited when she found out.
"We are completely blown away by all incredible donations and I am so proud of the difference she will make to such a wonderful zoo."
Noah’s Ark managing director Larry Bush said: “We’re bowled over by Polly’s fundraising efforts to help feed and care for our zebras here at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm. We love it when people share our passion for animals and Polly is definitely as mad about zebras as we are.
"It’s been a tough few month and a worrying time for the zoo and Polly has been an inspiration to all of us.”
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm welcomes more than 200,000 visitors each year. Opened in 1999, animals include lions, bears, giraffe, zebras, rhinos and gibbons.
As well as the longest hedge maze in Europe, visitors can enjoy huge indoor and outdoor adventure playgrounds.
It is also home to the ‘Elephant Eden’ – the largest facility for elephants in the UK and the biggest of its kind in northern Europe at 20 acres, which opened in February 2014.
