Kentish Express Ashford & District
Eco-friendly travellers win day out at Leeds Castle
Young green super heroes have triumphed in a walk-to-school challenge to help protect the planet.
Schools taking part in green travel schemes including Super Walk on Wednesday (Super WOW) have met their target to remove 200,000 car journeys from the road this academic year.
The challenge was set by the KM Charity Team as part of its work with schools to reduce traffic congestion and pollution and promote an active healthy lifestyle.
Teachers and pupils leading the way for eco-friendly travel were invited to a presentation staged at Leeds Castle to receive recognition for their efforts.
Class 4CB at Beaver Green Primary School, Ashford, were among the champions. Jay Brown, eight, and Thanusan Ramanadas, nine, collected the prizes of a free entry ticket to Leeds Castle for each child in the class plus a framed certificate.
Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “To reach the 200,000 mark at this stage is extraordinary. Well done to all the pupils, teachers, and families who are getting active and improving safety at the school gate, on the road, and in the very air we breathe.”
At the same event youngsters signed up to Buster’s Book Club celebrated passing the three million minutes of reading milestone.
Pupils from St Mary’s CEP School, Chilham, were singled out for praise for their dedica- tion to home reading. Eleanor Northey, 10, and Henry Adams, nine, of Peacocks Class, received Leeds Castle tickets and certificates on behalf of their class.
Currently 60,000 children across the county are using Super WOW, Green Footsteps or home reading initiative Buster’s Book Club.
The projects are supported by Kent County Council, Three R’s teacher recruitment, Specsavers, Eurostar, Bel UK, Volker Highways, Countrystyle Recycling, Kent Libraries and Kent Reliance.
Schools can sign up to fun green travel and literacy schemes for pupils at kmcharityteam.co.uk