Members of the Hampshire farming community are aiming to provide an impressive festive light show between Ashe and Overton on Saturday 29th November.
Dressing their tractors in festive lights, the group comprising of current and former farmers from north Hampshire are organising a ‘Christmas Light Tractor Run’ to raise money for Farmers Community Network (FCN).
The route starts at Polhampton Farm at 4pm and takes in Deane, Oakley and Ashe before finishing their journey in Overton around 5.30pm.
The parade will feature 25 tractors, all lit-up to celebrate the launch of the festive season in Overton, coinciding with the village’s Christmas market.
Co-organiser Steve Richardson says, “By putting on an impressive travelling visual display, we are raising funds for the Farmer’s Community Network, a community group which supports rural families in times of trouble or hardship.
“Farming is having a tough time. Mental health issues and even suicide is quite high in agriculture anyway but with some recent decisions those risks have rocketed.
“Farmers find it difficult to talk, especially as they spend so much time isolated. The FCN provide an increasingly valuable service to help our farming community”.
The voluntary charity organisation say they help 10,000 farmers and their families each year.
Donations can be made in collections on the night or via the event’s GoFundMe page: www.gofund.me/3cf15a340
The route is currently planned as:
4.00pm – Leave Polhampton Farm
4.10pm – Deane Cottages
4.15pm – Barlow Mow Pub
4.20pm – Croft Road/Highland Drive
4.30pm – St John’s Piece
4.40pm – Avon Road
4.50pm – Pack Lane
5.00pm – Malshanger Cottages
5.15pm – Station Road, Overton
5.20pm – The Red Lion Pub
5.35pm – Overton Christmas Market