In town centres, supermarkets and seaside locations, they gathered to thank the public for their overwhelming support, and to underline to MPs that the campaign will not stop until the government thinks again on its proposed changes to Inheritance Tax.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw joined farmers and tractors at Parker’s Piece in Cambridge, while Deputy President David Exwood supported several events, including at Worthing.
Almost 40 events were organised across the NFU East region.
One event took place in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, where farmers gathered at a gazebo in the centre with two tractors. talking to the public and raising money for RABI.
NFU Hertford Vice-chair Hannah Buisman said: “I think it’s massively important that we as farmers connect with the public and help them to realise that the family farm tax issue is something that will impact everyone.
“The tax could lead to small and medium-sized family farms going out of business and this will impact the entire rural economy.
“It could lead to food price rises in supermarkets, it would seriously harm farmers’ ability to deliver national food security and the huge amount of great work many farmers are doing to support the environment and protect the countryside would likely discontinue.”
In Essex, farmers were delighted with the public support received when they took tractors to several supermarkets across the county.
Speaking after a busy morning at Tesco in Harlow, County Chair Robert Padfield said: “It was amazing to see the support we had, not just the face-to-face engagement but also lots of thumbs up and honking of horns as people drove past.”
Suffolk farmers handed out more than 700 leaflets to shoppers at Waitrose in Bury St Edmunds, while, in Worthing, farmers donated produce, plus £180 given by the public, to Worthing Soup Kitchen.
Cambridgeshire farmers organised a fun day for the public at Johnsons of Old Hurst, which attracted 1,500 people.
As well as the public, MPs attended a number of events, including Jim Dickson in Dartford, Jess Brown-Fuller in Chichester, Andrew Griffith in Pulborough, Steff Aquarone in North Walsham and John Milne in Horsham.
Officeholders from East Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey worked together to organise events in their area.
Surrey County Vice-chair Paula Matthews said there was an excellent turnout of members at Crawley Retail Park, West Sussex.
“We had really good public engagement, with many people signing the stop the family farm tax petition. It was a good day and it was great to see so many members joining us there,” she said.
NFU Regional Director Dr Zoe Leach said: “Our dedicated members and staff put on 37 different events across the East region, positively engaging with the public and spreading the word.”
View our photo gallery of Day of Unity pictures from across the region
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President Tom Bradshaw and member Sam Goddard with farmers at Parker's Piece, Cambridge
Promoting farming at Sainsbury's in Aylesford, Kent
Beds & Hunts County Chair Freya Morgan with members in Hitchin Market Square...
...and captured in this fantastic iPad sketch by Matthew Slater, www.matthewslater.art
Ready to meet the public at Tesco in Harlow, Essex
A good location at Dartford Market
NFU members at Sainsbury's in Braintree, Essex
A fantastic event by the sea in Worthing
Thumbs up from Luke Abblitt at Johnsons of Old Hurst
Plenty of engagement outside M&S in Crawley
Andrew Griffith MP showing support at Pulborough, West Sussex
North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone showing support in North Walsham
John Milne MP meeting local farmers in Horsham
Talking to the public in Ipswich town centre
Members at Morrisons, Strood with former MP Kelly Tolhurst
The NFU team in March, Cambridgeshire
Getting the message across in Welwyn Garden City
Prime spot for the campaign at Morrisons, Wymondham
