We are season pass holders for Farmer Palmers in Dorset and really enjoy our regular visits to the park as they have so much there to see and do.
One thing has eluded me so far and that was their Deer Safari as it is run at 2pm and I normally have to leave about then to ensure I am home in time for the school runs.
On Easter Monday the horrendous winds that we had overnight died down by early morning and the sun was shining brightly so I decided to head out somewhere with the kids, who voted overwhelmingly for a visit to Farmer Palmers.
We spent the morning enjoying everything the farm has to offer, including the slide barn, indoor play area, tractors, park and of course seeing the animals. Sebby bravely groomed a pony with Eliza for the first time and Isaac and Eliza bottle fed some lambs and got to ride a pony.
The kids wanted to do the tractor ride, but were hungry so we stopped for lunch in their cafe so we missed it, however, the Deer Safari was running at 2pm which also involved a ride on the tractor so we paid our £2 extra each and jumped on board.
The tractor ride to the Deer was nice and bumpy, just as the kids like it and we stopped to get off by the deer herd who knew we were coming and were waiting patiently by the gate for us.
We got off the tractor and walked into a special area where we got to hand feed the beautiful red deer herd which is an amazing experience. They are incredibly gentle and snuffle their nose into your hand to eat the feed, Eliza said she felt the deers tongue and it tickled. The only animal that we were not allowed to feed was the stag as they don’t want him to get too friendly.
The whole experience took around 3o minutes before we climbed back onboard the tractor and set off on the bumpy ride back just in time for the days Easter Egg hunt. Typically the heavens opened and we got a little wet, but the kids came back out of the field with pockets full of miniature chocolate Easter Eggs so they were happy.
Thank you for a fun-filled Easter Monday Farmer Palmers, we will be back to feed the deer again soon.
Looks like you had a lovely time. We go to Snettisham Deer Park and it’s a lovely fun family day out too. The Deer Safari is always a really big hit for us too.
It’s great that you managed to finally go on the deer safari at Farmer Palmers, what a great experience for you all. Our deer are getting braver and will nibble out of your hands now but I can imagine having Red Deer eating from your hands is a fabulous experience. It’s great that they all got to have much more fun too, lamb feeding, pony grooming and pony riding I’m sure you’ll be back again before the school holidays are over with so much excitement. Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
Oh the deer safari looks like such a wonderful day out for everyone! I think I would have been really excited by seeing them as well! And how lovely to feed the lambs too #countrykids
looks like everyone had a wonderful time. Farm parks are always great for a day out. We went to Palacerigg Country Park on Easter Monday x
This looks lovely! I’m glad you managed to avoid most of the bad weather and still have a wonderful Easter.
We’re so use to wild herds of deer near our house who flee at the slightest noise or movement. Would love my kids to have a chance to get up so close to some deer!
Deer are always so elusive so to come near them must ne really amazing! And the place looks big even on a busy day! #countrykids
aww look at them brushing the pony! So sweet, Wilf would love this! x
What a great experience for the kids. I have to say the stag doesn’t look like an animal that would want hand feeding!
Look at all those happy smiles. Sounds like a fun outing.
As I was reading this I thought of the deer at Coombe mill! We also love next door to Woburn safari so see a lot of deer but can never get close. What a beautiful experience to feed them X
That looks like so much fun – my two would have loved this x
This looks lovely – we have wild deer near us and the girls love them. Would be good to get up close to some tame ones
What an amazing place to visit. We’v only ever once fed a deer, a wild one at a local park which came up very close and had some bread meant for the ducks.
This is really helpful post and very educational there is no doubt it.