An 11-year-old author, who hails from a Cumbria farm, has been chosen to be England's Farm Safety Hero 2026 as the UK's Farm Safety Week comes to a close today (Friday, July 24).

As a young storyteller and illustrator from Lamplugh, Erin Thompson was awarded with this title as she has reportedly been creating farm safety stories since she was just seven years-of-age.

Her newest book, The Girl in the Yellow Wellies Stays Safe on the Farm, sees Erin collaborate with the UK charity, Farm Safety Foundation, also known as Yellow Wellies.

Designed to encourage early conversations about farm safety, the book combines Erin's illustrations and storytelling with interactive activities developed by Yellow Wellies, stressing the importance of staying safe on farms to younger audiences.

Farm safety

As England's Farm Safety Hero this year, Yellow Wellies noted that Erin will play an important role in spreading farm safety awareness to children and farming families alike.

According to Yellow Wellies, an average of two children lose their lives on farms in the UK every year, with the charity's campaign aiming to create "lasting change across the industry."

The week-long campaign follows a decade of commitment from Yellow Wellies to "challenge attitudes and influence behaviours among young farmers under the age of 40."

Book

The manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, Stephanie Berkeley highlighted that instilling safe behaviours on farms within younger people earlier on in their life has a greater impact on them.

Speaking about the charity's partnership with Erin, Berkeley said: "Erin's book about empowering children, not only to understand how to stay safe themselves, but to use their voices to influence those around them.

"Her creativity and passion make her a wonderful ambassador and together we can share messages and drive action that could genuinely save a life."

Erin also commented on her partnership with Yellow Wellies as she stated the goal of the book is to help children understand that a farm "is a place of work and not a playground".

"I’m so lucky to grow up in this environment and the lifestyle it gives but I understand the dangers of it and want others to take safety seriously too," she added.

Yellow Wellies also thanked Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) for their contribution to the book, whose copies will be available at key agricultural shows this summer or by contacting the charity directly.