Cumberland News

Kids warm to wellie good idea!

A Cumbrian sheep farmer has developed the world’s warmest wellies for kids.

Shamed into action by his twin boys’ cries about freezing feet in traditional wellies, Simon Wood, 45, took a giant step forward for youngsters everywhere.

He set up The Warm Welly Company selling children’s Wellington boots lined with neoprene – the insulating material that keeps scuba divers snug in freezing cold waters.

“After searching for hours on the internet I was amazed that no-one sold them,” said Simon, who runs a 150-acre farm at Walton, near Brampton.

So he flew to China, struck a deal with a manufacturer – and the first 6,000 pairs arrived at his Hillfield Farm home this week.

Simon, who has twin boys Tom and Archie, two, and daughters Chloe, six and four-year-old Isabel, intends to sell the brightly-coloured wellies through his website www.warmwellies.co.uk.

“The boys were with me when I was lambing in the spring and after half an hour they were complaining about cold feet,” he explained.

“They had thick socks on but their wellies were hopeless. I felt really guilty because my boots were lined with neoprene and I was as warm as toast.”

Simon, who farms 300 breeding ewes with his wife Clair, and is also assistant director of the annual Lowther Driving Trials near Penrith, has been on a steep learning curve ever since.

“I had to go on a business course and find out all about importing, websites, marketing and PR – but now it’s all systems go,” he said.

The wellies cost £14.99 a pair and come in three bright colours – pink, blue and green. Sizes go up to two.

Simon in also looking to develop a range for older children.

“I’ve already had parents ringing me up having heard about the wellies,” he said.

His proud children appear on the company website.

“We had to do the photographs this summer in a heatwave but the photographer was brilliant,” said Simon.

“He made it look as if it was really cold and wet.”