Walk to School Week
Friday, May 9 2008
Scottish Borders will be a much more pleasant place to be in rush hour when around 8,000 children from 42 primary schools take part in Walk to School Week on 12-16 May.
The week is part of a hugely successful UK-wide campaign to encourage families to leave their cars at home and walk their
children to school. The environmental benefits should be significant when you consider that a single car driving the average
journey to school and back can emit enough carbon dioxide to fill 60 balloons.
The Walk to School campaign is now in its 13th year. This year, pupils will be exploring the local environment through sound and finding out just how much experience gets missed each day by being cocooned in cars – whether that’s the tweeting of birds, the clip-clopping of shoes or the sound of their friends’ voices. It is also an opportunity to highlight the benefits of children getting to know their communities through walking to school. The Council’s School Travel Co-ordinator Karen McGrath has been helping schools and providing resource packs for the week.
Councillor Catriona Bhatia, Executive Member for Education, said: “The response from schools has been fantastic and they will be joining thousands of other schools across Great Britain in promoting walking this week.”
Councillor Len Wyse, Executive Member for Environmental Services, said: "We are delighted with the response from schools.
We hope that parents support Walk to School Week and that it encourages more parents and children to walk to school on a regular
basis.”
Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Living Streets (the charity which organises Walk to School week) said: “By leaving the
car at home you save money on petrol, avoid parking hassles at the school gate, teach your children valuable road-safety skills
and do your bit for the environment.”
Even if your child’s school is not participating in Walk to School Week you can support the campaign anyway by walking to school or arranging for your child to walk with another trusted person. For more information and ideas about how to join in, visit www.walktoschool.org.uk.
Unified Solutions.