Despite the wet start at Bowood House and Gardens, Tractor Ted Diggers and Dumpers was a hugely successful event with over 5000 people attending over the weekend.

Fans of Tractor Ted were treated to an extravaganza of big machines which included a hugely impressive 45ton long reach excavator, waste handling excavator, a 30ton Volvo dump truck and two 8ton Kobelco excavators, as well as dozers, a skid steer and a range of MJ Church lorries. Throughout the day visitors to the show were treated to displays that included excavator football and JCB ‘tug-of-war’.

This is the second year MJ Church has joined forces with Tractor Ted, the little green tractor that brings real farm stories to life through a series of films, books and events. Carol Heneghan from MJ Church and chair of Constructing Excellence in Swindon and Wiltshire is keen that the industry is showcased to young people and their families, “Diggers and dumpers are very much part of farm life so the pairing works well with introducing children to the construction industry through fun activities at the Tractor Ted Show. With the technology we have invested in along with the recent new plant acquisitions, and our highly skilled operators, MJ Church put on a very exciting show. We also gave children the opportunity to experience first-hand driving an excavator, with a qualified operator of course, by hooking ‘ducks’ out of water filled skips. No doubt the highlight of the day for many of them.”

On the Sunday Team Bath Rugby players from the University of Bath also came along for a game of JCB ‘tug-of-war’, needless to say they needed help from the young Tractor Ted fans to pull the JCB!