Schools getting top marks for their eco-friendly travel will receive accolades this summer at a celebration staged at Leeds Castle in Maidstone.

Representatives from other schools are also invited to attend the Green Travel Mark Awards - which take place in the 16th Century Maiden’s Tower in June - and learn how to get on board with the walk to school work of the KM Charity Team.

The children’s charity runs Active Wow (Walk on Wednesday) – rebranded next academic term as Super Wow – and this scheme includes an exciting range of resource materials, activities, and competitions to persuade pupils to walk, cycle, scoot, or park and stride to school.

Regular challenges offer top prizes including tickets to leading Kent attractions and story time sessions with celebrities such as Phil Gallagher, better known as the presenter of the CBeebies hit arts and crafts show for children - Mister Maker.

Wow encourages regular participation, a more active lifestyle, and a drop in vehicle congestion at the school gate. Last academic year, the scheme generated more than 700,000 green journeys and removed 318,000 school-run car journeys from the county’s roads.

The Green Travel Mark Awards recognise schools committed to the wellbeing of pupils and the environment. Recipients are praised for effectively promoting and implementing schemes including Active Wow and Green Footsteps - and successfully encouraging pupils and their families to get active.

Awards can be earned at platinum, gold, silver, and bronze levels with additional recognition for schools that also provide a walking bus service.

School representatives interested in attending the Green Travel Mark Awards as guests (to find out about Super Wow) should contact Sarah Clyne at sclyne@thekmgroup.co.uk or call her on 0844 264 0291.

Sarah, who is the walk to school project officer for the KM Charity Team, said: “This is a great opportunity for you to meet the schools excited about the scheme and enjoying the fruits of their labours. And of course you will be able to talk to us in person about your specific school’s circumstances and how Super Wow can help.”

Organisations supporting the KM Charity Team’s green travel work with schools include Whites Transport, Ashford International Hotel, Orbit, Volker Highways, Countrystyle Recycling, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Specsavers, Eurostar, Kent County Council, Medway Council, London Borough of Bexley, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Whitefriars, Maidstone Borough Council, and Ashford Borough Council.

For further information, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk/wow