Farmer builds life-sized tractor with Christmas lights

An East Yorkshire farmer has constructed a full-scale model of a John Deere tractor and plough made with Christmas fairy lights to raise money for charity.

Andrew Wilkinson, who farms near Pocklington in East Yorkshire, has created a life-sized model of a John Deere 6820 covered in Christmas lights complete with a three-furrow plough and a front weight block.

The incredible structure is made with 11,000 LED fairy lights attached to a metal frame with about 8,000 tie wraps and has more than 2 miles of wiring. 

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Andrew put the masterpiece together in about four months as a tribute to his late father David Wilkinson, who died 11 years ago after a battle with cancer.

“The plough I have replicated is the very plough that my dad taught me to plough with, so it’s a very fitting addition to the tribute,” said Andrew.

The large Union Jack flag made from fairy lights pictured behind the tractor is a special dedication to Tom Hughes, who was the grandfather of Andrew’s girlfriend Emma Lycett. Tom passed away from cancer in 2016.

“I also want to say a massive thank you to everyone for their support this year, it means a great deal,” said Andrew. Last year, Andrew’s Christmas light tractor raised more than £3,200 for Cancer Research UK.

To make a donation, visit Andrew’s fundraising page.