FUN, ADVENTURE, TOGETHER – MEET OUR 2025 MEMBERSHIP AMBASSADORS, @THEPKU_CHEF
There’s a moment, just after the automatic doors glide open and you step from the underground zone into the lush hot house, when a wave of warm rainforest air hits you and the calls of tropical birds rise above the greenery. For Swansea food‑blogging parents Victoria and Joshua Jones (better known online as @thepku_chef) and their two boys, that moment is pure magic – and it’s why they return to Plantasia Tropical Zoo week after week. Their family mantra? “Fun, Adventure, Together.”
We’ve proudly named this lively crew our Annual Membership Ambassadors for 2025, and after hearing their story you’ll see exactly why an Annual Membership might be the smartest (and most exciting) purchase you make this year.
Cooking up community – the story behind @thepku_chef
Joshua launched The PKU Chef to help people living with Phenylketonuria (PKU) – a rare metabolic condition affecting 1 in 10,000 people in the UK. Drawing on his professional kitchen background and personal experience of a low‑protein diet, he shares realistic, flavour‑packed recipes the whole family can enjoy. The project quickly grew into a warm online community, and today their Instagram grid mixes inventive food ideas with snapshots of family life – many of them taken right here in our rainforest.
“Food used to dictate where we could go for the day,” Joshua tells us. “Now we whip up packed lunches or lean on brilliant cafés like Canopy Café so we never miss an adventure.”
Why they chose an Annual Membership
With two animal‑mad boys and parents who care deeply about the planet, Plantasia ticked every box – and the team here quickly realised they’d make perfect ambassadors.
“We were already popping in several times a term,” Joshua laughs. “So when Plantasia invited us to become Annual Members and share our adventures, we jumped at the chance – unlimited hours of family fun while helping spread the word.”
Membership has changed the rhythm of their weekends:
- Spontaneity – a rainy‑day Plan B that never disappoints
- Learning on repeat – each visit reveals a new creature or keeper fact
- Room to breathe – “No stress, no worries – just immersion in rainforest life without boarding a plane.”
Moments you can’t script
From mischievous meerkats to serenading parrots, Plantasia is built for unscripted surprises. The family’s favourite?
“The free‑roaming birds wandered right up to the boys while they were sitting on the floor,” Victoria recalls. “That close, eye‑level connection left everyone speechless.”
Their must‑see spots
- Crawling tunnel beneath the meerkats – “Every time we emerge, we’re grinning.”
- Arid zone – the blast of dry heat is an instant passport stamp.
- The cave tucked beneath the waterfall, with peek‑through look‑out holes onto the koi pond – a secret quiet corner for mid‑explore chill‑outs.
Mini explorers’ view
We put the spotlight on the boys for some quick‑fire questions and the answers did not disappoint…
- Cuddle buddy: “Meerkat – it would keep watch while I raid the snack stash.”
- Coolest fact learned: Carnivorous plants can detect smells. They lure prey with sweet scents – and they really eat!
- Three must‑pack items for an outdoor jungle trek: “Water, food and a knife to build shelter” – strictly for wild adventures beyond Plantasia! (no knives allowed inside!)
- Dream new arrival: Lemurs (a nod to the boys’ love of Madagascar’s rainforest) – plus towering sunflowers, the blooms that decorated Mum and Dad’s wedding.
- Best photo so far: Mam and Dad hand‑feeding the crocodiles – “Epic!”
Their insider tips for your next visit
- Pack a camera – unexpected encounters happen fast.
- Bring a pocket fan – it is a tropical rainforest.
- Make a day of Swansea – park at Parc Tawe, stroll into the city for a browse, refuel at Canopy Café, then disappear into the jungle.
- Aim for late afternoon (2 pm – 5 pm) – quieter paths, calmer vibes.
- Try the VIP Keeper Experience – on their 2025 hit list!
Ready to join the adventure?
Whether you’re planning regular animal encounters, searching for a mindful green escape, or keen to earn extra perks, our Annual Memberships come in five tiers – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Student Wellbeing – so you can pick the level that suits your lifestyle.
Every tier includes unlimited free entry for a whole year, plus a bundle of extras that grow with each step up:
- Special‑event access – free with Gold, Platinum and Student memberships; discounted with Silver.*
- VIP animal experiences – from one free encounter (Gold) to two (Platinum).
- Canopy Café savings – enjoy 10‑25% off food and drink, depending on tier.
- Animal adoption discounts – save 10 – 50% on your chosen species (tier‑dependent).
- Family party perks – a free party place for the birthday child on Family memberships (Bronze, Silver & Gold).
- Welcome treats – reusable coffee cup for all members; cuddly toy and rainforest‑themed merch on selected tiers.
*(Full benefit breakdown on the [Annual Memberships page]
As Victoria puts it:
“If every family had an Annual Membership, they’d have unlimited family adventure fun.”
Your turn to press “open” on the rainforest doors
Slide into 2025 with a year of Fun, Adventure, Together. Follow the family’s ongoing exploits at @thepku_chef, then click below to choose the membership that suits yours.
