Colourful knitted coats donated to help newborn lambs stay warm

Creative National Lottery winners have been knitting dozens of jackets for lambs at a farm in Fife.

Pet lambs in Fife have been wrapping up warm against the spring chill after dozens of colourful coats were donated to a charity.

The jackets have been knitted for lambs at Bonnyton Farm near Leven to help shield them from the cold during the first weeks of their lives.

The charity Lucky Ewe helps young adults with additional support needs to gain new skills by teaching them about farming.

Alana Paterson-Brown, who is part of the team at the charity, told STV News: “[The lambs] can help (people) if they’re struggling outside of Lucky Ewe.

“If they want to come, the sheep calm them down and let them be themselves really.”

The group are supported by the National Lottery, with local winner Libby Elliot volunteering much of her free time to help make the winter warmers.

She said: “Giving your time is the main thing, being able to see what good you can do for other people, there’s nothing like it.

“You see the lambs here and you see the youngsters and it just makes a difference. And that’s what you want to do, is make a difference.”

Among the National Lottery winners who picked up their needles to knit for the lambs were Ken and Jannette Wedgeworth.

It takes two days to complete one handmade coat, but Jannette has completed 15.

“One of my jumpers was for the first lamb that was born. She was wearing that and I feel really pleased, she said.”

The coats aren’t just fashionable, they also have a practical purpose in helping the lambs grow big and strong.

Joan Brown, from Lucky Ewe said: “On a chilly night they can get quite chittery and cold, and if they’ve got that extra layer it means they might be able to do that little bit better.

“They’ll grow that little bit faster and get a wee bit stronger.”

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