Green travel has soared to an all time high thanks to the heroic efforts of pupils taking part in the KM Walk to School campaign.

More than 318,000 school run car journeys have been removed from the county’s roads, smashing last year’s record breaking figure of 272,650. Families have notched up 700,000 green journeys this academic year through walking, cycling, scootering, or opting to park and stride to school.

Schools leading the way for the campaign’s green travel schemes were guests of honour at a celebration staged at Leeds Castle, Maidstone to reveal the impressive result.

The pupils are taking part in green travel schemes including Super Wow and Green Footsteps run by the KM Charity Team. They were congratulated by walk to school mascot Wowzer and supporting organisations Medway Council, Kent Reliance, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Orbit, and Volker Highways.

James Sutton from Medway Council said: “We’re here to celebrate the successes of our schools in recognising the number of car journeys that have removed from their roads. We feel very passionately about the walk to school message and are glad to see so many schools involved in that.”

Shannon Rivolta from Volker Highways added: “Nothing’s more important than teaching the next generation vital road safety skills and that’s what we’re getting with the Kent walk to school campaign.”

Organisations backing the KM Walk to School campaign, which will include the arrival of the Active Wow scheme in the autumn, include Kent County Council, Bel UK, Golding Homes, Countrystyle Recycling, Specsavers, Eurostar, Whitefriars, Jelf, and Gallaghers Aggregates.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team said: “We are thrilled that growing numbers of schools and families are embracing the walk to school with gusto. This simple habit is helping thousands of children to get more active and bubbling with energy when they get in the classroom.”

Schools can join Active Wow for the 2017-2018 academic year by visiting www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or clicking this direct link HERE or emailing Sarah Clyne at sclyne@thekmgroup.co.uk or calling 0844 264 0291. Bookings received this term will gain a 20% discount on the price plus entry into a prize draw to win a pair of Eurostar tickets.