Last updated: 16 July 2026
At The Ark Open Farm, we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it and the rights you have under UK data protection legislation.
By using our website, purchasing tickets, becoming a member, contacting us or visiting the farm, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Who We Are
This Privacy Policy applies to The Ark Open Farm Limited (Company No. NI694742), the operator of The Ark Open Farm and the data controller responsible for your personal information.
Registered Office
The Ark Open Farm Limited
284 Bangor Road
Newtownards
County Down
BT23 7PH
Farm Entrance / Visitor Address
The Ark Open Farm
296A Bangor Road
Newtownards
County Down
BT23 7PH
Email: info@thearkopenfarm.co.uk
Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following information.
Information you provide
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- Name
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- Postal address
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- Email address
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- Telephone number
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- Booking details
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- Membership information
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- Gift voucher purchases
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- Accessibility or carer information where required to provide our services
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- Correspondence when you contact us
Information collected automatically
When you use our website we may collect:
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- IP address
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- Browser type
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- Device information
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- Pages visited
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- Time spent on our website
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- Referring website
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- Cookie information
This information helps us improve our website and understand how visitors use it.
Information collected during your visit
When visiting the farm we may collect:
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- CCTV images and audio recordings
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- Vehicle registration details where relevant to an incident or investigation
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- Accident or incident reports
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- Photographs or video recordings taken for promotional purposes where appropriate
How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
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- Process ticket bookings and memberships
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- Administer season passes and gift vouchers
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- Provide customer support
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- Respond to enquiries
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- Process refunds
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- Contact you regarding your booking where necessary
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- Improve our services
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- Protect the safety of visitors, staff and animals
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- Prevent fraud and criminal activity
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- Meet our legal obligations
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- Send marketing communications where you have chosen to receive them
Lawful Basis for Processing
We process personal information under one or more of the following lawful bases:
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- Performance of a contract (such as processing your booking)
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- Compliance with legal obligations
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- Our legitimate interests in operating and improving the farm safely and efficiently
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- Your consent where required (for example certain cookies or marketing communications)
Ticket Bookings and Memberships
When you purchase tickets or memberships, we collect the information necessary to manage your booking.
This includes:
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- confirming your booking
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- processing payments
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- verifying membership entitlement
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- administering gift vouchers
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- contacting you if there is an operational issue affecting your visit
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- preventing fraudulent transactions
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- maintaining financial records required by law.
Our visitor bookings, memberships and marketing preferences are managed through our online booking system. If you choose to receive marketing communications, you can unsubscribe at any time using the link included in our emails or by contacting us directly.
Payments
Payments made through our website are processed securely by our payment providers.
The Ark Open Farm does not store your full payment card details.
CCTV and Audio Recording
To help provide a safe and secure environment, The Ark Open Farm operates CCTV across various areas of the site, including entrances, buildings, public areas and car parks.
Clear signage is displayed around the farm to inform visitors that CCTV is in operation.
Some of our CCTV cameras record audio in addition to video.
CCTV is used for the following purposes:
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- protecting the safety of visitors, staff, volunteers and animals
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- preventing and detecting crime, theft and vandalism
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- investigating accidents, incidents and complaints
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- protecting our buildings and equipment
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- supporting insurance claims
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- assisting the Police or other authorities where appropriate.
The lawful basis for this processing is our legitimate interest in maintaining a safe and secure environment.
Access to CCTV recordings is strictly limited to authorised personnel.
Footage may be shared with insurers, the Police or other authorities where required by law or where necessary for the investigation of an incident.
Unless required for an ongoing investigation or legal proceedings, CCTV recordings are automatically overwritten after approximately 42 days.
Photography and Video Recording
We occasionally take photographs and video recordings around the farm for use in:
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- our website
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- social media
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- printed marketing materials
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- advertising
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- promotional videos.
Where practical, we aim to capture general scenes and activities rather than focusing on identifiable individuals.
Where a visitor is intended to be the main identifiable subject of photography or filming, where practical and appropriate, we will seek consent before using images in which an individual is the clear and primary subject.
If you would prefer not to appear in promotional photography or filming, please let a member of staff know when you arrive. While we cannot guarantee that you will never appear incidentally in background images, we will make every reasonable effort to respect your wishes.
Children
The Ark Open Farm is a family attraction, and many of our visitors are children.
Parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising children and for providing any personal information on their behalf.
Where photographs or video recordings are intended to feature identifiable children as the main subject for promotional purposes, we will obtain appropriate permission where required.
Accessibility Information
If you request accessibility assistance or an Essential Companion ticket, we may ask for limited information to verify eligibility.
We will only collect information necessary to administer the service requested and will treat this information confidentially.
Contact Forms and Enquiries
If you contact us by email, telephone, social media or through our website, we will use the information you provide to respond to your enquiry and maintain appropriate records of our correspondence.
Marketing Communications
If you have chosen to receive updates from us, we may send information about:
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- events
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- seasonal activities
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- memberships
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- offers
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- news from the farm.
You may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly.
We will never sell your personal information to third parties.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience.
Cookies help us:
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- keep the website functioning correctly
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- remember your preferences
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- understand how visitors use our website
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- improve website performance
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- maintain website security.
Where required by law, non-essential cookies will only be used after you have given your consent.
You can control cookies through your browser settings at any time, although disabling some cookies may affect how the website functions.
For more detailed information about the cookies we use, please see our Cookie Policy.
Website Analytics
We use website analytics tools to help us understand how visitors use our website.
This information is aggregated wherever possible and is used solely to improve our website and visitor experience.
Who We Share Information With
We only share your information where necessary.
This may include:
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- our online booking system provider
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- payment processing providers
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- website hosting and IT service providers
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- professional advisers including accountants
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- insurers
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- law enforcement agencies where legally required
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- regulatory authorities where applicable.
We require all organisations processing personal information on our behalf to keep it secure and to comply with applicable data protection laws.
Data Retention
We retain information only for as long as necessary.
Typical retention periods include:
| Information | Typical Retention |
|---|---|
| Booking and financial records | Up to 7 years |
| Customer enquiries | Up to 2 years |
| Marketing subscriptions | Until you unsubscribe |
| CCTV recordings | Approximately 42 days unless required for an investigation |
| Accident and incident reports | In accordance with legal and insurance requirements |
Some records may need to be retained for longer where required by law, for safeguarding, insurance or legal proceedings.
Keeping Your Information Secure
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, accidental loss, misuse or disclosure.
While no internet transmission is ever completely secure, we work with trusted service providers and regularly review our security arrangements.
Your Rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
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- request access to your personal information
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- request correction of inaccurate information
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- request deletion of your information in certain circumstances
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- request restriction of processing
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- object to certain processing
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- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
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- request transfer of your information where applicable.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.
Complaints
If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, we would appreciate the opportunity to address them first.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Website: https://www.ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology or how we operate.
The latest version will always be published on this page together with the date it was last updated.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact:
The Ark Open Farm Limited
Registered Office
284 Bangor Road
Newtownards
County Down
BT23 7PH
Farm Entrance / Visitor Address
296A Bangor Road
Newtownards
County Down
BT23 7PH
Email: info@thearkopenfarm.co.uk
Telephone: 028 9182 0445