The organisation took the opportunity to spice up hoardings surrounding its former HQ in Belgravia with scenes of Britain’s well-loved farming landscape as the building undergoes an extensive refit.
The prints sit atop existing boards spanning 20 metres along the two buildings at 25-27 Knightsbridge, which faces Hyde Park.
The images show scenes of British fruit and vegetables, farmyard animals and tractors and are designed to convey the NFU’s ‘Back British Farming’ campaign and help tell the story of where Britain’s food comes from and how people can help support British farmers.
The boards will remain in situ until the building has been fully renovated, which is expected to take three months. As part of the wider ‘Back British Farming’ campaign, hundreds of banners are also being placed around major roads in England in the next month.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “We hope this incredible farming montage will prompt Londoners to back British farming.
“More and more people are interested in where their food comes from and, according to a YouGov survey, we know that 86 per cent of people want to buy more British food.
“The NFU is bringing the countryside to the city and reminding millions of people where their food comes from and who produces it. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to bring a taste of the countryside to a predominantly urban area.
“We know that the public are supportive of British farming – the NFU speaks to hundreds of thousands of people via social media every month while the videos we produce to showcase British farming are often viewed by tens of thousands of people. Our newsletter to supporters is now received by 25 thousand members of the public with clear calls to action on how they can Back British Farming.”
About the Back British Farming campaign:
- British farmers produce around 62 per cent of Britain’s food supply and by backing British farming, can help make it a more food secure nation.
- The UK has the fastest growing population in Europe according to the Office for National Statistics. Supporting British farmers will lead to greater self-sufficiency and less reliance on imports.
- Farming grows more than food. Farming and food sectors support families and economic growth by providing over 3.8 million jobs.
- UK farmers' contribution to the economy has grown by £3.1 billion or 45% to almost £10 billion in the five years up to 2014.
- British animal health and welfare standards demonstrate leadership in Europe and across the globe.
- Countryside and environmental improvements instigated by farmers since 1990 include an additional 50,000km of hedges and 70,600 ponds since 1997.
- As energy prices rise and climate issues increase, 1/3 farmers are finding innovative ways to produce both food and renewable energy on farms, providing greater energy security for the UK.