Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in Wherstead, Suffolk

Today, Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park is an award-winning tourist attraction, showcasing a wide range of wild and domestic animals in spacious, state-of-the-art accommodation. But how did an old dairy farm on the outskirts of Ipswich that had stood empty for nearly 50 years become home to a menagerie that includes four polar bears, an anteater and a pack of Arctic wolves? The simple answer is: Jimmy Doherty.

Probably best known as a television presenter, Jimmy’s journey has been fuelled by his overwhelming passion for nature. Growing up in Essex, he started working in the tropical butterfly house at Mole Hall Wildlife Park in Saffron Walden at the tender age of 13. When he wasn’t preoccupied with the butterflies, he also assisted the park’s keepers in caring for a range of larger animals from otters to chimpanzees. By 16, he had become the youngest-ever assistant entomologist (the branch of zoology concerned with insects) at the Wildlife Park.

Zebra crossing with Ranger Holly. (Image: John Boyle) After gaining a degree in Zoology he went on to work in the Entomology Department at London's Natural History Museum, before training for a doctorate in Entomology at Coventry University. With such stellar qualifications and experience already under his belt, Jimmy could have had a comfortable career mapped out ahead of him. However, with a yearning to reconnect with nature and a vision of producing his own food and being self-sufficient, he became restless. Jimmy was desperate to find a plot of agricultural land where his dream could become a reality.

In 2002, he finally found what he was looking for: a derelict and overgrown 100-acre farm in Wherstead - lost in time maybe - but with the potential to fulfil his vision. Although many less adventurous souls would have been deterred by the state of the land, Jimmy was captivated by the property’s patchwork of streams, ponds, woodland and pasture, and he purchased the farm. Revitalising the property was a mammoth task and involved erecting miles of fencing, building the accommodation and installing a plumbing system; the only source of water at the start of the venture was a bucket and well.

Arctic fox in the Lost Lands of the Tundra. (Image: John Boyle) Working with wife-to-be Michaela Furney, the couple set up The Essex Pig Company to produce free-range meat from a variety of rare breeds, most notably the endangered Essex. The couple’s struggles and successes were documented in the popular BBC series Jimmy’s Farm, with much of the programme’s drama emanating from Jimmy’s lack of farming knowledge and experience. The farm is a proud member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), which works tirelessly to ensure that we do not lose the diversity of our native farm breeds. Jimmy became the President of the RBST in 2016, making him its youngest President to date.

As well as a flair for farming, Jimmy holds a passion for non-native wildlife and, with a great team behind him, the farm applied for zoo status with the aim of housing vulnerable and endangered species from across the planet. In October 2016, the organisation was awarded its zoo license from the local authority and Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park was born. The first three exotic species that were welcomed to their new homes in Suffolk were reindeer, tapir and meerkats. The collection expanded rapidly, and in May 2019 the Wildlife Park became accredited by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), an organisation formed to represent zoos and aquariums that pride themselves on their excellent animal welfare, education and conservation work.

Ewa has made a splash in Suffolk. (Image: John Boyle) Already thriving in its new wildlife conservation role, a whole new opportunity and challenge presented itself when the Park received an unexpected request for help from Scandinavia. Orsa Predator Park in Sweden had been purchased by developers and the staff there were ordered to rehome all their animals including polar bear Ewa. Any animals that could not be relocated were to be put to sleep. Jimmy knew they had no other choice but to help and a long and complex rescue mission resulted in Ewa finding her forever home in Suffolk.

Three more female polar bears, Hope, Flocke and Tala, have since joined Ewa in what is now the largest polar bear reserve in Europe. The multi-functional reserve, called The Lost Lands of the Tundra, was constructed following advice from animal welfare charity Born Free and in consultation with the world's leading experts in polar bear care and behaviour. This has ensured that the facility meets the highest standards of animal welfare. The exhibit intertwines with the existing natural landscape and incorporates woodland and natural springs giving the bears three large pools to swim and play in.

Establishing the pecking order. (Image: John Boyle) During the summer, I joined the team at the park to look behind the scenes and discover exactly what’s involved in the day-to-day running of such a complex enterprise. I started at the Arctic wolf enclosure as animal rangers Will and Izzy were preparing to feed the pack. As the large chunks of fresh meat hit the ground, wolves rushed in to grab any prime cuts that they could find, but this was soon followed by a melee of chasing and chastising as the lower-ranking wolves were forced to yield to their superiors. The intricacies of the large pack’s strict hierarchy were fascinating to observe, something only a lucky few people will ever get to witness in the wild. The pack’s alpha pair have bred this year, producing four adorable pups that chased the adults for food relentlessly.

Environmental enrichment is a key requirement when housing large and intelligent creatures in captivity. This can take many forms, but one of the most common is to encourage the animals to forage for their food as they would in their natural habitat. As I watched the rangers throwing watermelons into the water for the polar bears to find, Will tells me that during the summer months fruit and vegetables make up the bulk of the bears’ diet, just as it does in the wild.

Will and Izzy provide meals on wheels. (Image: John Boyle) Whilst observing animals from the ‘Frozen North’ on a hot August day, I had to ask Will the obvious question: ‘Won’t the Arctic animals get too hot in these conditions?’ Will was quick to counter. ‘No. It’s a misconception that in the wild these animals spend the whole of their life living in a cold climate. During the summer months, temperatures can reach 26°C in large parts of the tundra so most bears do not live on ice all year round.’ As I spoke with Will, he undertook a routine test of the electric fence along the reserve’s boundary, a critical task with so many large carnivores roaming behind the fences.

Animal welfare is at the forefront of everything that the Park does, and this ethos manifests itself in the passion, enthusiasm and dedication of the staff; they are totally devoted to all the animals in their care. As I joined ranger Sammie in the lowland tapir enclosure, her presence was soon detected by Teddy, and he trotted out of his shady shelter to meet her. As Sammie held out a banana, Teddy was soon investigating the fruit with his elongated snout, like a miniature version of an elephant’s trunk, and within seconds he had transferred the fruit to his mouth. After his snack, the tapir sprawled on his side and revelled in the attention as we both stroked and patted him like a pet dog.

Sammie feeding Teddy the tapir. (Image: John Boyle) Whilst Teddy lapped up the affection, Sammie told me more about the animals. ‘A couple of years ago Teddy’s mate Tip-Tap gave birth to a single male calf. We named the youngster Tobias, and he lived here with his parents until he became independent. He was then rehomed in Northumberland Zoo where he’s now living a life of luxury. We are optimistic that Teddy and Tip-Tap will breed again.’

As I made my way out of the park, I could hear the evocative sound of the wolf pack howling, and I couldn’t help wondering what the previous owners of this Suffolk farm would have made of it.