{"id":197915,"date":"2026-09-06T07:28:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T07:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/197915\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T07:28:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T07:28:10","slug":"farm-for-underprivileged-children-opens-to-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/197915\/","title":{"rendered":"Farm for underprivileged children opens to public"},"content":{"rendered":"

A farm which offers residential and day trips for underprivileged children is giving members of the public a rare opportunity to visit.<\/p>\n

Dodford Children’s Farm in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, will open its doors on 15 and 16 September for Heritage Open Days<\/a>, an annual national festival of history and culture.<\/p>\n

The theme for this year’s event is Everyday Histories, exploring the “often-overlooked stories of ordinary working people and their daily lives”.<\/p>\n

It coincides with the 75th anniversary of the farm, which was founded in 1950 by school medical officer, Dr Dorothy Beaumont.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The farm’s resident animals are very tame [Gavin Kermack\/BBC]<\/p>\n

Beaumont was concerned about the health of children living in overcrowded, polluted areas of Birmingham and thought they would benefit from a stay in the countryside.<\/p>\n

“They had all these aspirations to let them run around in the fresh air in the countryside and be free.”, said the farm’s manager, Kelly Broadfield.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

A variety of animals live on the farm [Gavin Kermack\/BBC]<\/p>\n

Today, most children visit with their school groups during term time, but many come with their families during the holidays after being referred by professionals.<\/p>\n

“We get a lot more referrals for families where there’s at least one autistic child”, said Broadfield.<\/p>\n

“We [also] get lots of families who are financially struggling and a normal holiday would be out of their reach.<\/p>\n

“So they come here – for very little to free – and have a few days in the countryside.”<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Children can feed and stroke the animals [Gavin Kermack\/BBC]<\/p>\n

Although Dodford is not a working farm, the resident animals – including donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs – are the highlight for most children.<\/p>\n

There is also a playground, a soft play barn, a splash pool and a pond for catching shrimps.<\/p>\n

“We do find a lot of children are almost trapped in the city, and their life is just going to school, going home, walking on concrete,” said Beaumont.<\/p>\n

“So this is like a whole other world to them.”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Adam, from Redditch, was visiting with his daughter Robyn and son Oliver [Gavin Kermack\/BBC]<\/p>\n

Adam, from Redditch, recently spent a week at Dodford with his family – including his children, 8-year-old Robyn and 11-year-old Oliver, who is non-verbal.<\/p>\n

“It’s really calmed him down,” said Adam. “He slept nine hours last night and I think that’s the most sleep he’s had in years.<\/p>\n

“It’s been really good for him, a big open space where he can burn his energy off.”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Marie Priest and Karen McGuinness used to visit the farm as children [Gavin Kermack\/BBC]<\/p>\n

Sisters Marie Priest and Karen McGuinness, now both in their 50s, were small children living in inner-city Birmingham when they first visited in the late 1960s.<\/p>\n

Priest arranged a short trip to the farm as a surprise for her sister, who was visiting from her home in Spain.<\/p>\n

McGinnis said she remembered a sense of being loved and cared for during her childhood visits.<\/p>\n

“I actually feel a bit emotional,” she said. “It’s such a good opportunity for underprivileged children.<\/p>\n

“It just shows them that there’s something else out there.”<\/p>\n

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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