Fairytale Farm

Fairytale Farm, was opened in 2013 by David Cameron and is the UK’s first visitor attraction to put disabled children first in its design and layout.

There are very few rural facilities for disabled children and their families. As most parents of children with special needs know, much of the countryside is out of bounds. Although there are a number of centres for disabled children, these tend to be institutional and require advanced booking, and most mainstream attractions are not fully accessible, despite the efforts of owners.

Nick and Nicola Laister, whose eldest daughter Olivia has cerebral palsy, decided a number of years ago to acquire some land and create a tourist attraction where disabled children and their families can spend a day out in the countryside enjoying various rural activities on a site where everything is primarily designed around their needs. Their vision was to create the sort of attraction that they would have liked to have visited with their own children, which Olivia could have enjoyed alongside her brothers and sister.

Fairytale Farm is the first family farm attraction where everything is designed around the needs of children with sensory, learning and physical disabilities, but which can be enjoyed by children without disabilities too. A truly inclusive experience.

For the first time in the UK, disabled children have their own attraction that operates like any other commercial tourist attraction which they can enjoy with the rest of their family – and with no pre-booking needed.
This facility would not be a care facility or an institutional experience, but a family day out in the countryside, built around the needs of the family member whose needs are most difficult to cater for, but open to everybody.

Fairytale Farm is divided into four main zones: Huff and Puff for adventure play; Enchanted Walk for our fairytale sensory experience; Alfie and Friends, where you can meet our amazing animals; and The Stables, where you can visit Mouse Town, play in our sandpit and enjoy our Cafe and indoor play area. In 2014 we introduced Mouse Town, the Giant Rabbit Burrow, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel & Gretel and our wacky Rubber Duck Racing. We have lots of new attractions planned for 2015, including a new outdoor seating area for the Beanstalk Cafe, complete with sandpit and wishing well.

Huff and Puff
Burn off energy and have loads of fun in our adventure playground area – where kids of all abilities can:

Race a rubber duck along our pump-powered wacky waterway.
Climb our timber play structures and whoosh down our exciting slides.
Jump on board our giant combine harvester.
Explore our very own Storybook Castle – where fairytales can come to life.
Swing on the Nest Swing or on our fabulous wheelchair swing.

Alfie and Friends
Get to know all our animals (including our mascot Alfie the Alpaca) up close and personal! Our educational animal zone is packed with amazingly sociable creatures who are waiting to make friends with you and your children.

Come and say ‘hi’ to:

Fairytale Ponies –  our miniature Shetland ponies are perfect for little princesses.
The Old Woman and her Pig – our TV star pigs. Their house was blown down by a wolf so they now live happily ever after, snoring away in the ark!
The Two Little Pigs – Winston and Edgar are our two little Kune Kune pigs. They’re very gentle and super cute! And meet our three micro-pigs.
The Four Billy Goats Gruff – they safely crossed the troll bridge and have settled in beautifully at Fairytale Farm.
The Donkey, from the Brothers Grimm – can you make our donkey smile?!
Magical Rheas – gorgeous South American birds, as tall as your children, that were hatched here at Fairytale Farm.
Chicken-Licken – free-range and friendly, you’ll find several breeds of chicken including our fluffy Silkies.
Turkey Lurkie and Friends – Listen to our turkeys gobbling, and watch the boys proudly showing off their colours.
Rabbit Walk – Here you will find fluffy rabbits and sociable guinea pigs, all going about their daily business.
Alfie and Friends – inquisitive and alert, Alfie the Alpaca and his friends love to watch the world go by here at Fairytale Farm.

The Stables

Mouse Town
See a family of mice going about their daily business in our beautifully crafted indoor model village.

Giant Rabbit Burrow
Explore this larger than life burrow and play in the rabbits’ kitchen.

Sandpit
Fun in the sand for the kids while the parents
enjoy a coffee or an ice cream.

Beanstalk Cafe
Light lunches and snacks at reasonable prices, much of which is sourced from local suppliers. Delicious home made cakes is a favourite, and we sell locally-baked gluten and dairy free cakes.

Shop
Why not also visit our shop, situated in the cafe, where you can buy a selection of Fairytale Farm souvenirs and fairytale toys and gifts.

Indoor play area
With toys, musical instruments, books and sensory pictures, it will keep everyone warm, dry and entertained!

Just turn up and have fun – everything is accessible and everybody is welcome!