Dozens of farmers from across Kent are preparing to join a protest rally in Westminster next week to demonstrate against the government’s new inheritance tax grab on their land.

And they will be taking produce with them to help create the UK’s biggest ‘food bank’ to demonstrate what a vital role the industry plays.

Among them will be Kim Gower whose family runs Blandred Farm at Acrise near Folkestone who will be taking bags of potatoes to give away.

She admits to having “sleepless nights” and says the new tax burden could cost the business up to £3 million when handed on to the next generation.

“It’s going to be a peaceful, respectful demonstration because we need to keep the public on our side and we are already getting a lot of support,” she said.

Also hoping to attend is George Holdstock whose family runs the EH Holdstock & Son farms at Littlebourne.

He described the budget announcement as “incredibly cruel” for farmers.

“The reality is that returns from farming are very small compared to the value of the land,” he said.

“This tax simply discourages investment and .threatens the ability of the next generation to carry on family farms.”

The day of action by farmers follows the announcement in the Budget that a 20% ‘death’ tax will be levied on agricultural land and buildings worth more than £1 million.

Previously, they benefitted from 100% relief, known as APR (agricultural property relief).

More than 180,000 people have now added their names to a national petition calling for the controversial plans to be reversed to save family farms from being broken up and sold.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement was made despite multiple warnings from National Farmers Union president Tom Bradshaw before the Budget and 3,500 emails sent from union members to MPs.

Immediately afterwards, Mr Bradshaw said: “The current plans to change agricultural property and business property relief need to be overturned and fast.

“Farmers are rightly angry and concerned about their future and their family farms, having been reassured by ministers in the lead-up to the budget that APR and BPR changes were not on the table.”

There are two elements to next Tuesday’s rally in London because demand to attend has been overwhelming.

The NFU is staging a lobbying meeting in Westminster, where speakers will take to the rostrum, with MPs also invited to attend.

In tandem, hundreds of farmers aim to bring their produce to the capital to create the country’s biggest food bank.

This new tax is giving us sleepless nights because we have calculated it could cost our future generations up to £3 million...

The chairman of the East Kent Ploughing Match Association, Michael Baker, who runs Chalkpit Farm at Bekesbourne and Essentially Hops, says the new tax is a “massive blow” for family farms.

“It just sends out a message from the government that they are not interested in supporting British farming,” he said.

“The asset value of farms is fairly meaningless because in reality, many struggle to pay their way.

“It’s just a very sad state of affairs and the very least the Chancellor should do is to raise the threshold of £1 million to perhaps £3 million or £5 million.”

Earlier this month, Martin Twyman, 84, whose farm was created by his father almost 100 years ago, told KentOnline his family would face a tax bill of almost £2 million when handed down if the new levy is brought in.

The owner of HW Twyman Farm at Littlebourne, near Canterbury, said: “I would love my family to continue the business that my father started - and for the next generation and their children.

“But the reality is my family could be left with a huge tax bill which would mean having to sell off lots of land - and then it would make it unviable.”

The campaign to reverse Agricultural Property Relief has been gathering pace on social media, where arable farmer Tom Allen Stevens posted: “Congratulations for launching this petition on the family farms tax and reaching the 100,000 target… consumers know there is a better way to support public services than tax cash-poor farmers.”

Tracy Graham added: “Signed and shared. Everyone able to sign this really should.

“This is the single most important petition I feel I have ever signed. Thank you to all our farmers.”