Festive tractor runs raise spirits and funds for charity
© Welshpool Illuminated Christmas Tractor Run 2022 Hundreds of farmers have taken part in tractor runs to lift community spirits and raise vital funds for charities ahead of Christmas.
The largest tractor run took place in Welshpool, Powys, where 210 illuminated vehicles paraded through the town on Sunday 11 December.
The run, in aid of rural charity the Addington Fund, was in its second year and saw entry numbers double.
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Organiser Jenny Clarke, of Powys Annual Charity Events (Pace), said the turnout was incredible.
Entrants travelled from as far as North Yorkshire and the Midlands and met up at Welshpool Livestock Market during the afternoon.
© Welshpool Illuminated Christmas Tractor Run 2022
Members of the public were able to take a close look at the tractors before the procession set off on a 30-mile route through surrounding towns and villages.
Impressive tractor parade tonight in Welshpool with over 200 tractors taking part all in aid of the @AddingtonFund with @RVTractors pic.twitter.com/T3GkAqLA9Z
— Bill Young (@billyoungnsch) December 11, 2022
Tractor types ranged from a 46-year-old David Brown 995 to a huge 8000 Series JCB Fastrac, drawing large crowds to Welshpool’s high street as a finale.
Donations to the Addington Fund are still being totted up, according to Ms Clarke, but it is already known the total will run into many thousands.
Runs held nationwide
Sunday also saw another huge gathering of illuminated vehicles in Lancashire for the Clitheroe Young Farmers’ Club annual Christmas Tractor Run.
The event is expected to beat a £5,000 target for donations to Cancer Research UK and the YFC.
© Clitheroe YFC
More than 130 tractors turned out, despite snowy conditions. Vehicles covered in festive decorations and lights travelled through the Ribble Valley and drew crowds of more than 2,500 people.
In Dorset, almost 100 tractors took part in an annual festive run to raise funds for the Will Does charity.
The charity was set up in memory of local teenager William Paddy, who took his own life in May 2019 when he was just 14 years old.
A drone view of the Clitheroe gathering © Jonathan Thomson Aerial Photography
All funds will be used to support the charity’s mission to promote social inclusion, mental wellbeing and physical health.
Participants were asked to donate £10 before setting off on the two-and-a-half-hour journey through 11 towns and villages.
Meanwhile, villages around Bridgnorth in Shropshire witnessed the return of a festive tractor run in aid of Hope House Children’s Hospices.
Tractors met at Bridgnorth Livestock Market on Sunday, before driving out of the town to outlying villages as darkness fell.
The run was organised by 18-year-old Tom Wellings, who established the event in December last year and raised £3,700 for Cancer Research UK.
Farmers gear up to host more Christmas tractor runs
A second tractor run in the Shropshire/Powys area will take place on 23 December, also in aid of Hope House children’s hospice.
Organisers Brian Jones, Sophie Mottershead, Wendy Jones and Carys Studley raised thousands for charity with the first run in 2021.
Mr Jones said the 2021 run was pulled together in just eight days but drew huge support.
He said the 2022 event would be bigger and better and would set off at 6pm from Hanmer junction on the A525 and A539. Updates on Brian’s Christmas Tractor Run will be posted on Facebook.
A city-based tractor run has also been planned in north-west England.
Merseyside arable farmer and YouTube blogger Olly Harrison has organised a Festive Farmers tractor run, which will process through the centre of Liverpool and its outskirts.
The event will take place on the evening of 18 December with approximate timings between 6pm and 9pm, according to Mr Harrison’s #OllyBlogs webpage.