An 11-year-old author from Cumbria has been named England's Farm Safety Hero 2026 in recognition of her efforts to promote farm safety awareness among children through storytelling and educational resources.

The recognition, reported by Agriland, celebrates Erin Thompson's long-standing commitment to encouraging safer behaviour on farms. Erin, who has been writing and illustrating farm safety stories since the age of seven, has partnered with the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) to produce The Girl in the Yellow Wellies Stays Safe on the Farm.

The book combines illustrated stories with interactive activities designed to help children understand the hazards associated with working farms while encouraging conversations about safe behaviour at an early age.

Yellow Wellies said Erin will serve as England's Farm Safety Hero throughout the coming year, helping to raise awareness among farming families and young people as part of its wider campaign to reduce preventable accidents in agriculture.

The charity noted that, on average, two children lose their lives on UK farms each year, reinforcing the importance of improving safety awareness across rural communities. Its annual Farm Safety Week campaign continues to focus on influencing attitudes and promoting safer behaviours throughout the agricultural sector.

Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said empowering children to understand farm hazards from an early age can have a lasting impact on workplace safety. She added that Erin's work encourages young people not only to protect themselves but also to influence those around them to take safety seriously.

Erin said she hopes the book helps children recognise that farms are workplaces rather than playgrounds. Growing up on a farm has given her an appreciation of both its opportunities and its risks, and she wants other children to understand the importance of staying safe.

The publication was developed with support from the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) and will be distributed at agricultural shows throughout the summer, extending its reach to farming families across the UK.

The initiative highlights the growing emphasis on early safety education within agriculture, where improving awareness among young people is increasingly recognised as an important part of strengthening long-term health and safety culture across the industry.