Skip to content

Tractor run for farmers' mental health charity

Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group A close up of a blue tractor driven by a young man with a licence plate reading "James" in the cab window. It is part of a line of tractors passing through a country village. Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group
Participants decorated their tractors in a Halloween theme

Over 30 tractors joined a “spooky” run of the roads around Royal Wootton Basset to raise funds for a farmers’ mental health charity.

Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group organised Sunday's event in aid of the Yellow Wellies charity.

Club chairman Jamie Davies said the aim was to spread a little joy but also to remind people that “it’s a difficult world out there for farmers”.

Mr Davies, a contract farmer who lost a friend to suicide, said the charity was “very close to all of our hearts”.

Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group A cream and blue Citroen 2CV, followed by a red military vehicle, head up a convoy of tractors driving down a country road. Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group
A range of vintage vehicles joined the run

The 23-year-old from Wraughton said: “Yellow Wellies were very close to me when I lost my friend.

“They helped pick me back up and bring me back into the world and (the club) donates to them as much as we can every year.”

He added: “It’s not as easy as it should be for farmers but what we can do is brighten their days a little bit - bring the tractors out.”

Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group A classic red fire engine with a bell and a ladder on its roof drives down a country lane. Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group
A fire engine was one of the many vintage vehicles on the run

Vintage and modern tractors were joined by two Citroen 2CVs, a classic fire engine and vintage military vehicles.

Participants decked their tractors out in Halloween decorations and travelled over 30 miles.

Club member Joe Terry said: "The day ran very smoothly. We had an amazing turnout at the Sustain farm shop, where we started, with lots of general public coming to see the vehicles."

He added: "As we went through the villages on our route we had an enormous turnout...making the atmosphere even better."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

Related Internet Links