Tractor Convoy Raises Funds for Farmers’ Mental Health

A “spooky” procession of over 30 tractors navigated the roads surrounding Royal Wootton Basset, collecting donations for a mental health organization dedicated to farmers. The Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group orchestrated this Sunday’s event, which benefited the Yellow Wellies charity. Club chairman Jamie Davies stated that the objective was to generate some cheer while also reminding the public that “it’s a difficult world out there for farmers”. Mr. Davies, a contract farmer who experienced the loss of a friend to suicide, conveyed that the charity held a place “very close to all of our hearts”. The 23-year-old from Wraughton shared: “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 further commented: “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.” The convoy featured both vintage and contemporary tractors, accompanied by two Citroen 2CVs, a classic fire engine, and various vintage military vehicles. Participants adorned their tractors with Halloween decorations and covered a distance exceeding 30 miles. Joe Terry, a member of the club, remarked: “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 also noted: “As we went through the villages on our route we had an enormous turnout…making the atmosphere even better.” Connect with BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Submit your story concepts to us via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Further details on our external linking policy are available.