Girl reopens zoo after raising thousands for animals and staff

A little girl has officially reopened a zoo in North Somerset after raising more than £11,000 for its animals and staff.

Polly Robertson set herself the target of raising £100 for Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm - which was forced to close because of the coronavirus pandemic - by walking or running one mile a day for 64 days.

But after appearing on Jeremy Vine’s Radio 2 show, Polly’s online fundraising page was inundated with donations - taking her total to £11,000.

Having raised enough to feed all of the zoo’s animals for an entire month, staff invited the eight-year-old, from Hereford, to cut the ribbon at its official reopening earlier today (23 June).

Posting on Polly’s JustGiving page prior to today’s reopening, mum Sarah thanked all those who donated.

Polly's love for the zoo, which is based in Wraxall, came after staff re-named a zebra after her as a gift on her birthday during lockdown in April.

According to Sarah, it was "love at first sight" and prompted Polly’s campaign to help support the zoo ahead of its reopening.

Read more:

• Zookeepers reflect on nine weeks in self-isolation with sanctuary animals

• At-risk Exmoor Zoo first in West Country to receive Government funding

• Zoos and wildlife centres across the West Country at risk of closure

• Living Coasts zoo closed permanently - Paignton and Newquay Zoos also at risk

• Watch Richard Payne's report: