A much loved deer feeding experience at Farmer Palmer’s farm park near Wareham in Dorset is having to be closed down after strict enforcement of zoo licensing laws dating from 1981.
Although the herd of 18 red deer have lived at Farmer Palmer’s for the past 18 years, a clampdown on terms in the Zoo Licensing Act means that the farm park would need to become a zoo in order to keep them.

Sandra Palmer-Snellin with maintenance manager Mark, original farm owner David and some of their red deer herd
Hand feed the friendly animals
The cost of more than £4,000 for the licence alone, with regular and costly visits from specialised zoo vets on top, is too much for Farmer Palmer’s to justify.
Licensing authority Dorset Council has allowed Farmer Palmer’s to keep the deer until after school half term holidays have finished, but on Thursday 26th February 2025, the animals will have to be given away.
Farmer Palmer’s has been open as a farm park for 26 years and the deer herd has been on site for much of that time, with the feeding experience becoming an unmissable highlight for many Purbeck families.
Children are given a bumpy tractor trailer ride out to the top field where the herd lives, and then get to hand feed the friendly animals through a rail fence with deer feed.

Feeding the deer at the farm park has become an unmissable experience for many children
“The extra cost is simply not viable”
Farm park director Sandra Palmer-Snellin said:
“We are proud to have given families memorable experiences through play and animals, but after many wonderful years we can no longer allow public access to our deer, or offer our cherished deer safari experience, unless we turn the entire farm park into a zoo.
“This is due to Defra enforcement of the Zoo Licensing Act and because red deer are classed as a wild animal. Unfortunately, in today’s challenging climate of rising hospitality costs and increasing legislative demands, the extra cost is simply not viable for us.
“We haven’t been asked to apply for a zoo licence in the past because common sense has prevailed – we had an animal exhibition licence instead, which is an excellent raft of documents of all aspects of animal care and housing.
“But things are changing and we are now looking at £4,000 for the legal paperwork, and a licence fee of £425 which has to be applied to the whole park, not just to the red deer herd – so we would then need zoo licenced vets to frequently inspect the whole park, which is very expensive.”

The herd of red deer has been at Farmer Palmer’s for the past 18 years
“Like the straw that broke the camel’s back”
Sandra added:
“Some farm parks are rehoming wild animals like meerkats back to a zoo because they don’t want all that pressure – this year is going to be tough enough for farms and hospitality without extra costs.
“To go that extra bit for the zoo licence is like the straw that broke the camel’s back. The original stock came from a deer farm, many years ago, and we are speaking to them about returning them, but there are other places like the Drax estate with a herd – and because they are not open to the public, they don’t need a licence.
“Dorset Council, which handles the licences, has given us dispensation for three rheas and for our aviary birds, but they can’t extend it to our deer because it is a different section of the legislation.
“They are all wild animals, but they have all been raised here and are very tame, you are not allowed to release them into the wild, quite rightly, and so we don’t have much choice but to find new homes for the deer.”

The farm park’s rheas – distant relations of emus and ostriches – have been given a special dispensation to stay
Getting children back to nature
Farmer Palmer’s started life in 1998 when Phillip and Sandra diversified the dairy farm owned by David Palmer, who is still farming today at 89 years old.
Their mission statement was to help local children develop across all levels through education, exercise, entertainment and events, and they recently won a gold award from Dorset Tourism for attraction of the year.
Their aim to focus on children of eight and under, and give them the chance of getting back to nature in an environment that is fun and educational has paid dividends.
The farm park now employs more than 65 people, welcomes around 100,000 annual visitors and has 4,800 annual pass holders keen to try out some of the 25 different attractions.
Having met strict criteria and implemented measures to separate their birds in accordance with government restrictions to safeguard them from the threat of avian flu, visitors will still be able to view Farmer Palmer’s rheas and aviary birds.

All other animals on the farm park, like these goats, will continue to give hands-on experiences for visitors
“A special chapter in our history”
Sandra Palmer-Snellin said:
“This is a significant blow to our farm park, and the decision to stop customers viewing the deer has been incredibly difficult. We are sad to bid farewell to our red deer, who have been an integral part of our farm park, but deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our community and customers.
“Whilst the deer feeding experience is ending, Farmer Palmer’s remains committed to inspire and educate visitors about farming, and wildlife remains at the heart of everything we do.
“We look forward to introducing new experiences in the year ahead, to complement our fantastic full day out of animal encounters, play areas, tractor rides and educational activities.
“To those who have shared in the beauty of our deer experience, thank you. Your laughter, photos and connection with these animals have meant the world to us. We encourage everyone to visit before Tuesday 25th February 2025 to say goodbye to a special chapter in our history.”

Farmer Palmer’s welcomes almost 100,000 visitors every year
“We are expected to enforce requirements”
A Dorset Council spokesperson said:
“Under Defra requirements, if the public interacts with wild deer in a purpose-built space (such as a visitor attraction), they require a zoo licence.
“As the local Licensing Authority, we are expected by the government to enforce these requirements.
“Our inspecting officer has provided advice on how to apply for a zoo license. The business can also choose to stop the interaction with the deer, so that they no longer need one.
“We remain fully open to talk with the business owners and provide any support that we can.”
Further information
- Find out more about Farmer Palmer’s on its website