National Farmers Union members and eight young farmers joined the Worshipful Company of Farmers, Massey Ferguson, Red Tractor and Surrey Docks Farm to bring the #BackBritishFarming message to the city of London.
Saturday (November 10) marked the fifth time that the NFU has supported the Worshipful Company of Farmers in this annual Lord Mayor’s Show.
With an estimated 600,000 people lining the streets of London to watch the procession, it’s a prime opportunity to engage with the general public and tell them that British farmers are proud to produce their food.
During the parade, Katie Anderson representing the NFU south-east region was interviewed by Chris Hollins and explained to the BBC’s TV audience of 4 million people why she is proud to help produce the nation’s food.
Massey Ferguson provided machinery for the event, consisting of a Massey IDEAL 9T combine and a brand new Massey 6714S tractor.
The tractor bucket was brimming with hampers of British produce to help the public connect food with farming.
‘Showcasing the best of British farming’
NFU vice president Stuart Roberts was among those who joined the young farmers to parade through London.
He said: “it was the perfect opportunity to showcase the best of British food and farming to millions of people and explain the crucial role of British farming and its place in the wider food industry.”
Francesca Beswick, representing the North West, said she was “extremely proud” to represent the industry.
Matt Launder, representing Wales, added: ” It was a great day spent showcasing our fantastic industry.
Hitting the streets of London to parade and meet the general public was a highlight. One person even thanked me for producing food and for his breakfast. Extremely proud to be a farmer.
Anna Hunt, representing East Anglia, added: “This has been a great opportunity to show everyone what Britain has to offer.”
A special hamper was also presented to the new Lord Mayor which included oils, preserves and drinks made from the best British produce plus a copy of the Countryside Kitchen cookbook.
The parade in numbers
- The Lord Mayor’s show parade is three miles in length;
- 600,000 people lined the streets of London to watch the parade;
- Food and farming contributes £112 billion to the UK economy;
- The grain tank on the IDEAL 9T combine is 17,100L and can hold enough grain to produce around 24,000 loaves of bread;
- Home-grown food is something the British public is proud of – 89% agree that it’s important to support British farming according to government statistics.
The Worshipful Company of Farmers is a City Livery company promoting all aspects of farming and associated activities and promotes excellence within the industry.
