25/07/2026
🐾 Meet the Team: Ben
As National Zoo Keeper Week draws to a close, we're finishing our Meet the Team series with someone who has helped make Holmes Chapel Zoo what it is today.
Over the past week we've introduced you to the dedicated people who care for our animals, welcome our visitors and work behind the scenes every day. Today, we're delighted to introduce Ben, our Director, Co-Founder... and self-confessed "Jack of All Trades!"
Ben co-founded Holmes Chapel Zoo alongside his wife, Melissa, and has spent the last 14 years working in zoos. Originally from Lancaster and now living in Haslington, when he's not at the zoo you'll usually find him spending time with his young daughter, exercising or relaxing by playing the piano or viola.
💚 What inspired you to set up Holmes Chapel Zoo?
"I've always loved animals. From joining the RSPB's Young Ornithologists Club as a child to cage diving with great white sharks in South Africa as an adult, wildlife has always been a huge part of my life. Couple that with wanting to run my own business and having a slightly eccentric side... and Holmes Chapel Zoo was probably inevitable!"
🦜 Favourite animal at Holmes Chapel Zoo?
Without hesitation......Milo, our Eclectus Parrot!
"He's been with us for years, has an amazing personality and loves chatting to me around the zoo... although, rather annoyingly, he only seems to do it when no one else is around!"
Which animal are you most like?
"A meerkat, because family and food are both very important to me!" 🦡❤️
😂 Funniest zoo moment?
"We taught Milo to whisper 'What you doing?' by gently rubbing his beak while saying it to him. One evening we'd covered his aviary so he could sleep, and later I walked into the living room and suddenly heard a quiet whisper saying, 'What you doing?' I couldn't work out where it was coming from and completely panicked, running straight back out of the room... before eventually realising it was Milo!" 😂🦜
⚡ Quick Fire
☕ Tea or coffee?
Coffee.
🌅 Early bird or night owl?
Early bird.
🧀 Guilty pleasure food?
Fully loaded nachos.
🐾 Reptiles or mammals?
Mammals.
🏔️ Beach or mountains?
Mountains.
☀️ Favourite season?
Summer.
🦘 Dream animal to work with?
A quokka.
🎵 If your life had a theme tune?
That's Life – Frank Sinatra.
📍 Favourite place?
Barcelona.
😄 Favourite way to spend a day off?
"What's a day off?" 😄
🦔 Favourite animal fact?
"Our tiny, adorable tenrecs are actually related to elephants!"
🦈 Most amazing animal you've ever seen (outside Holmes Chapel Zoo)?
A great white shark.
❤️ One last thing...
"Creating Holmes Chapel Zoo has been an incredible journey. Seeing families enjoy time together, watching children discover a love of wildlife and knowing we're helping inspire the next generation to care about conservation makes all the hard work worthwhile." 💚
Got a question for Ben?
Whether you'd like to know more about how Holmes Chapel Zoo began, our plans for the future or what it's really like running a zoo, pop your question in the comments below and get Ben to answer soon.
Come and meet Ben and the rest of our fantastic team this summer as they share their passion for wildlife and help create unforgettable memories for visitors of all ages.
Book your tickets now: www.holmeschapelzoo.co.uk
We're open every day throughout the summer holidays from 10am–5pm (last entry one hour before closing).
We can't wait to welcome you!
