Dorset's Petting Farms and Animal Parks

Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

Address: Wareham Rd, Organford, Poole, Organford, Poole BH16 6EU

Information: Farmer Palmer’s is Poole’s best petting farm and well worth a visit over the summer with kids able to interact with all of their favourite farm animals they’ve seen on tv and learnt about in the classroom. 

This Poole-based petting farm boasts an amazing range of animals that kids can meet, feed, and touch including shetland ponies, a Mediterranean donkey, goats, guinea pigs, alpacas, deers, and so much more, which is why this petting farm is so popular with families!

The farm also features a range of exciting child-friendly attractions that will keep the kids - and parents - busy all day long such as their Little Farmers Fun Barn, Pedal Go-karts, Duck Pond, Straw Mountain, Summer Maize Maze, and more, truly making this a summer day out perfect for everyone! 

They also run events all-year-round so if you’re looking for a petting farm in Poole that offers so much more then make sure to check out the brilliant Farmer Palmers.

Featured Animals: Goats, deer, donkeys, pigs, shetland ponies, alpacas, deers, guinea pigs, and more.

Price: From £7.50 - £15

Opening/Closing Times: Monday to Sunday: 9.30am - 4pm

Telephone: 01202 622022

Putlake Adventure Farm

Address: High St, Swanage BH19 3EU

Information: Putlake Adventure Farm is a Gian petting farm, farm shop and indoor soft play centre near Poole. 

Around a 30-minute drive from Poole town centre, this family-fun centre is a great way to spend a day out with the kids, boasting an array of traditional farm animals such as ponies, lambs, sheep, cows, pigs, goats, and chickens. 

You can take part in exciting farm experiences including the opportunity to bottle feed baby lambs and groom some of Putlake’s ponies. Once you’re finished having fun with the farm animals, head indoors and let the kids loose on one fo Dorset’s biggest soft plays.

Featured Animals: Lambs, goats, ponies, guinea pigs, chickens, donkeys, alpacas, birds, and so much more.

Price: From £5.95 - £9.25

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park

Address: Edmondsham Road, Verwood BH21 5RJ

Information: Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park is famous in the south-west after appearing on BBC Tv and winning countless awards since opening in Dorset. 

A short journey from Poole and easily accessible via car and bus, this expansive farm park is one of the few remaining Heavy Horse centres left in Great Britain and is expertly recognised as being one of the region's best farmyard and animal experiences. 

Perfect for school trips or a day out during the school holidays, this fantastic attraction near Poole is a wonderful petting farm experience.

Featured Animals: Herd of heavy horses, donkeys, alpacas, ferrets, pygmy goats, pigs, birds and more.

Price: From £7.50 - £14.50

Kingston Maurward Animal Park & Gardens

Address: Kingston Maurward, Dorchester DT2 8PX

Information: Kingston Maurward Animal Park & Gardens is the furthest out of our list of the best animal farms and petting centres in and around Poole but is well worth the extra distance if you’re looking for a day out of child-friendly farm fun. 

Explore Dorchester and marvel at the beautiful sun-basked gardens of Kingston Maurward and explore their outstanding animal park.

Interact with an array of some native and slightly more exotic fam animals including ponies, ducks, pigs, rabbits, pygmy goats and more as you travel around one of the best animal farms found near Poole. Take a break from the beach for a day and take a stress-free adventure around Kingston Maurward.

Featured Animals: Ponies, ducks, pigs, rabbits, pygmy goats, peacocks, and loads more.