Published: February 24, 2023 | Updated: 25th February 2023
Tens of thousands of children have loved their visits to its rural location over the last 25 years.
Now an unlikely pairing between a Dorset farm park and two paediatric physiotherapists has produced a unique book for children.
Farmer Palmer’s, in Organford, and Bournemouth-based Storycises, have joined forces to create a book called I Love Visiting My Favourite Farm Park!
The collaboration came after Wendy Joy and Jane Reynolds, both Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists, met with Sandra Palmer-Snellin at Farmer Palmer’s, and spoke about their work helping children to gain essential motor skills.
They were able to link crucial skills practice to the various areas of the farm park and show the importance of physical experiences.
The colourful book demonstrates how to integrate essential foundation movement skills through play, practice, learning and experiences – all available at Farmer Palmer’s – that help children to prepare for school and beyond.
The book launch marks a special anniversary for the award-winning farm park as this year marks its 25th birthday.
Sandra, whose family own the farm, said: “For the past 25 years, generations of children have grown up at Farmer Palmer’s.
“We’ve had employees that are coming back with their children.
“I thought what better way than to now integrate Storycises skills and our 25 years with this beautiful creation as a celebration?
“We all know that play is crucial full-body exercise that develops problem-solving skills.
“Children are like sponges, soaking up everything as they learn new things.
“At Farmer Palmer’s they can be curious and investigate, explore, run, climb, communicate and develop imagination and creativity.”
Jane and Wendy created Storycises after seeing increasing numbers of children referred to physiotherapy for difficulties with fine and gross motor skills over a decade ago.
The duo have created a school’s programme and provided resources to pre-schools, nurseries and libraries.
In addition, they have self-published two children’s storybooks.
Last year, the pair released ‘Farm Adventure’ to help primary school pupils build motor skill confidence using interactive storytelling and play.
Jane and Wendy approached Farmer Palmer’s about stocking their latest publication.
They were delighted when Sandra asked to work together to produce a bespoke book for the farm park.
Jane said: “If our children are to be robust and healthy young people, they need to be more physical and experience a wide range of movements from birth onward.
“They need time to experiment, practice and consolidate their motor skills with those adults around them scaffolding them to do this.
“Farmer Palmer’s provides so many opportunities to do this in a fun and exciting way.”
Wendy added: “Now families will be able to take away a special memory of their visit to Farmer Palmer’s while helping their children to gain essential movement skill practice.
“We love the family sense to Farmer Palmer’s.
“Every time we met, Sandra would talk about family and the intergenerational activities, and in our work, we’re always talking about modelling.
“Modelling behaviour, modelling play and modelling the joy in movement, so the collaboration links in well with that.”