Green travel greats from across Kent, Medway and Bexley have been honoured at the KM Walk to School Awards.

School pupils and staff who have showcased active commitments to green travel initiatives were commended at the ceremony staged at Rowhill Grange Hotel, Dartford on Monday, February 8.

Vicki Barrett, of Rowhill Grange Hotel, said: “Walking to school is such a vital part of children’s wellbeing. It provides them with key awareness skills, as well as boosting a sense of community and offering important health benefits.”

A total of 20 awards were accepted at the event. The Kent-wide Top Established Walking Bus Award went to Medway’s St. Andrew’s School, whilst Top New Walking Bus Award was handed to Bridge and Patrixbourne School, Canterbury.

Road safety schemes were also commended, with winners in the Top Road Crossing Patrol Officer category coming from Blean Primary School, near Canterbury, Leeds and Broomfield Primary School, Maidstone, and Callis Grange Nursery and Infant School, Broadstairs.

Mark Stevens, who won the award for his work at Callis Grange, said: “I’m delighted to have been awarded for this role. This is all about ensuring young people are equipped with core skills which enable them to recognise hazards, read signs and cross roads sensibly and safely.”

The awards are organised by the KM Charity Team who provide green travel services including WOW (Walk on Wednesday), Walking Bus, Green Footsteps and Active Bug to over 250 schools across Kent, Medway and Bexley.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the charity, said: “Not only does walking to school provide excellent health benefits for children, it also optimises their knowledge of road safety, and decreases harmful emissions by reducing the number of vehicles on the roads. Approximately, a staggering 250,000 car journeys were removed from the county's roads during the academic year thanks to these schemes.”

He added: “These awards provide the opportunity to celebrate the dedication and commitment of pupils, parents and staff to our green travel initiatives, and hopefully inspire other schools across the region to follow in their footsteps.”

As well as the awards, audiences were also treated to some entertainment from Featherby Junior School, winners of the Walk to School Song Contest. They performed their rendition of Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine” with new, original lyrics.

The event was supported by Specsavers, Rowhill Grange Hotel, Whitefriars of Canterbury, Orbit South, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Leeds Castle, Safer Kent, Circle Housing Russet, Eurostar, Mini Babybel, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Ashford Borough Council and London Borough of Bexley Council.

Schools who are looking to join KM Walk to School can contact Louise Rogerson at lrogerson@thekmgroup.co.uk

For more information, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk