‘Scooter Gran’ kicks off Fife Park Walk events

Pupils take part in series of walks with backing from campaigner

Internet sensation Barbel Roerig helped kick off a series of Park Walk events in Fife as part of National Walking Month.

The Perth pensioner, dubbed ‘Scooter Gran’, joined school pupils from across Fife at Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy.

More Park Walks are planned for tomorrow, at Riverside Park in Glenrothes, and Thursday, at Letham Glen in Leven.

Pupils have been taking part in a campaign run by Living Streets Scotland called WOW, encouraging them to walk to school at least once a week.

Chris Thompson, schools and projects coordinator from Living Streets Scotland, said: “This May, we want to get the whole of Scotland involved.

“We’re urging families up and down the country to give walking a go during National Walking Month.

“You’ll be amazed at what a difference a short blast of fresh air can do for you. It’s free, green and easy, and above all it works.

“We need to encourage children to get walking now and set in place healthy habits for the future.”

John Mitchell from Fife Council said: “Fife Schools have been enthusiastically participating in WOW over recent years and has seen a rapid increase in engagement levels and levels of active travel.

“These park events are a celebration of the achievement of these pupils for a job well done and also provide an opportunity for further engagement to help encourage greater levels of participation in the future.”

Also at the Kirkcaldy event was children’s entertainer Jamie the Jester and Strider, the Living Streets mascot.

Pupils from several Fife schools came along and joined in with a host of fun activities including face painting, den building, a treasure hunt and a magic show.

According to Living Streets, the number of children walking or cycling to school had fallen prior to the WOW campaign.

However, where schools have participated in initiatives like WOW, an increase has been reported, with at times more than 75% of pupils regularly travelling to school by foot, scooter or cycle.

Schools across Scotland will also be taking part in Walk to School Week, which happens during the third week of National Walking Month.

We need to encourage children to get walking now and set in place healthy habits for the future. CHRIS THOMPSON LIVING STREETS SCOTLAND

Jamie the Jester, ‘Scooter Gran’ Barbel Roerig, Strider and Donna Cromb of Living Streets Scotland.