Dorset farm to close popular deer-feeding experience

If you’ve even visited Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park near Poole, you will likely have taken part in one of its most popular attractions, the red deer safari, where visitors get to meet and feed the park’s herd of red deer.

Unfortunately, due to the enforcement of government regulations, the park has made the decision to no longer offer this experience and will say goodbye to their deer.

Due to the Government’s DEFRA enforcement of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, Farmer Palmer’s can longer allow public access to the deer, unless the entire farm park transitions into a zoo. This is because red deer are classed as a wild animal. The farm park says that, due to rising hospitality costs and increasing legislative demands, this change is not viable.

To comply with the regulations, the farm park has implemented strict biosecurity measures and separated its birds in accordance with government restrictions to safeguard them from the emerging threat of avian influenza. It will rehome the deer, and the public have until 25 February to visit and say farewell to the deer.