Farmers send muddy messages of support to NHS

Wednesday, April 01st, 2020

Muddy messages of support to the NHS spring up across the countryside as farmers pay tribute to their fellow key workers

As the original home of farmer dating and country life love in the UK, we are delighted to see muddy messages of support and appreciation to the NHS springing up across some of the nation’s 23 million acres of farmland.

Farmers, themselves so often undervalued and overlooked as key workers critical to the country’s efforts to battle the global pandemic, are still managing to find time to work signs of solidarity and support to those on the frontline into their land and rural life routines – and the results rightly are demanding attention.

From mowed fields to stock marked sheep, the personal tributes, videos and photos from across the countryside are raising spirits at a time when farmers themselves are under pressure to get land drilled following the increment weather. Significantly, it has also got the media and public talking positively about British agriculture, and all the key workers keeping the country moving, at this time.

Farmer Ben WIlson, who manages the Glympton Estate, ploughed a giant heart into part of a 20 acre field at his Oxfordshire farm. “We had a little play in the field pre-spring oats” Ben said.

Ben created the tribute to his fellow key workers whilst giving his son a tractor driving lesson before capturing the design on a drone.

This has been followed by Matthew Alford and farmer John Govier who mowed a massive 360x 130m tribute (Main photo) of their own into a growers’ fields in South Molton, Devon after being inspired by farmers in other parts of the country

Matthew, from South Molton, said: “I saw a farmer that did something in the midlands and thought Devon should do their bit for what’s going on and had a bit of inspiration.”

Mr Govier added “I cheated a little bit with technology as I used tracking to get the lines straight.”

That inspiration came from the yard team from Forsyth Farmwork, based at Moorlands Farm, Kineton, Warwickshire, who used their skills to great effect, expressing their thanks out in the field whilst combining two Case IH 535 Quadtrac tractors and two Horsch 12m drills to spell out the letters.

“They took the time out of frantically trying to get thousands of acres drilled, all being very late from all the rain.” a local source said.

Have you done something similar to show your support in the countryside?
Email social@muddymatches.co.uk and we will feature you on our muddy blog.

Main Photo credit and copyright: Barnaby Newell