Folkestone christmas tractor run 2025

The Folkestone Christmas Tractor Run returns for 2025.  After the huge success of their first outing last year, there will be 60 tractors making their way from The Blue Silo in Acrise, through the villages and ending at the Harbour Arm on Saturday 20th December.  Organisers Rob Warnock, Henry Burrows and Rob Jenner talked to Folkelife about this wonderful community event.

Rob W: “The farming community around Folkestone is large.  As soon as you get out of the built-up areas, farmland is what you are walking or driving through.  We felt that we needed to be more connected with the rest of Folkestone, and what nicer way to do this than to deck our tractors with Christmas lights and decorations and show you who we are? 

“That was the thought behind running the event last year, and so many farmers wanted to be a part of it.  We had to cap the entries at 50 tractors and farm vehicles, just so as not to overwhelm the roads around town.”

charity and community

Henry: “This year we’ve got 60 tractors coming.  We could have had more, but we want all of the vehicles to travel in a complete convoy.  In passing through Hawkinge, Capel and Folkestone, we don’t want to hold up the other traffic for long, and so we thought it best to limit the numbers.  

“What we didn’t take into account last year was the sheer number of people who came out to see us!  We had started planning 3 weeks before the event – don’t worry, we started in July this year! – and gained over 2000 followers on our Facebook event page in that time.  I have no idea how many were out on the streets, but it was really wonderful to see so many people.”

Rob W: “We decided to raise funds for charity, and it had to be a local one too.  It’s important to be connected to the work that goes on in Folkestone.  We chose Touchbase Care which is on Tontine Street.  In our planning, we’d hoped we could raise about £1,000 for them.  However, in reality, we raised over £4,700 which was amazing!  This year, all the monies collected on the day and through our fundraising links go to Touchbase Care, and all the tractor entry fees go to the Kent Air Ambulance.  We can say already that we’ve raised £1,500 for Kent Air Ambulance.  Both these charities are close to our hearts, and are much needed in our community, so we’re happy to be supporting them.”

the route

Rob Jenner: “I did a dry run of the route last night in my car and it makes more sense than last year.  We’re starting at The Blue Silo in Acrise.  That’s a micro-brewery on Blandred Farm and so there’s lots of space for us to get together before the start.  From there we come out onto the A260 and coming down through Densole by the Black Horse pub. At the roundabout at the bottom of the hill we turn onto Spitfire Way, and head off towards the cemetery at the next roundabout. 

“We will then wiggle through Hawkinge to get to the Mayfly pub and turn back on ourselves.  We’ll go back to the roundabout which takes us straight through Hawkinge, down the hill, and then up to Capel.  At The Valiant Sailor in Capel we will manoeuvre to get back down to Folkestone, along Blackbull Road, Foord Road, Dover Road and Tram Road, leading us to the Harbour Arm.

“We’ll leave The Blue Silo at 4.45pm, and aim to be at the Harbour by 7pm.  You will probably hear us coming before you see us, but you definitely won’t miss us!”

farming life

Rob W: “There are seven of us organising the event, and we’re all farmers.  I’ve got a diary cow herd in Capel.  This is as much doing something for the community as it is a social event for us.  We work hard, so getting together and doing something like this which is not work, doesn’t happen unless we make a real effort.  It’s be a lot of fun, and great to be so well received by everyone.”

Henry: “We’ve got a sheep farm in the Alkham Valley.  The way farming is going at the moment, there’s not a lot of money in it.  We have to diversify in order to make a living.  So we have a horse livery as well, we do glamping too with a restored shepherd’s hut and hot tub looking over the valley.  It’s the way farming is going.  And opportunities such as this give us the chance to talk to others about what we do, and how to support us.”

not just tractors

Henry: “We have other farm vehicles coming along, there will be a forage harvester which we use to make silage for the cows in winter.  There will be some vintage tractors in the mix, as well as other vehicles too.  

“The idea is that when we get to the Harbour Arm, we can park up there and everyone can get to climb on the tractors, have a chat with us about what we’re doing and generally have some fun getting to know each other.  We aim to arrive at the Harbour at 7pm, and will stay around until 8pm to meet people.  We’re looking forward to getting some mulled wine and a bite to eat too!  It will be fun, and we’re really looking forward to it.” 

To donate to Touchbase Care via the Folkestone Christmas Tractor Run 2025’s Just Giving page here: