Maidstone schools taking part in the KM Charity Team’s Walk to School campaign have completed a staggering 50,000 green travel journeys this academic year.

The achievement coincided with this week’s Clean Air Day (June 21), which highlighted the health hazards of air pollution, and the action that people can take to improve air quality in their communities.

The schools’ bumper number of green journeys has given a boost to Maidstone Borough Council’s efforts to improve air quality, triggering praise from the chairman of the local authority’s Communities, Housing and Environment Committee.

Speaking at the KM Charity Team’s Green Travel Mark Awards, which were staged last week at Leeds Castle, Cllr Derek Mortimer said: “It’s very important for us to support the Walk to School campaign. We’ve managed to get 50,000 Walk to School journeys in the Maidstone area, which is fantastic. We’d love even more.”

Cllr Mortimer said Walk to School played a key role in efforts to reduce air pollution in Maidstone.

He added: “Air quality is a major problem for many towns, especially Maidstone. The council does regular monitoring across the borough. We have hot spots, such as down in the town and towards the Loose Road and out on the M20 motorway.

“The more cars we can get off the road and encourage people to walk, the better for everybody.”

Earlier this month, the council rolled out the Clean Air for Schools initiative, a simple, hands-on and low-cost science scheme that gives children an active role in monitoring local pollution.

Both Cllr Mortimer and KM Charity Team chief executive Simon Dolby urged more schools to sign up.

Cllr Mortimer said: “I’d love all schools to be involved to improve our air quality and to get involved with the monitoring across the borough.”

Mr Dolby added: “Walk to School and Clean Air for Schools are two simple schemes that show children how easy it is to make a real and visible difference to their local environment and the communities in which they live.

“I urge other schools to sign up now.”

To find out more, visit www.Maidstone.gov.uk/CleanAirForSchools

The KM Charity Team’s Walk to School work is supported by Whites Transport, Ashford International Hotel, Orbit, Volker Highways, Countrystyle Recycling, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Specsavers, Eurostar, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Whitefriars and Maidstone, Ashford, Kent, Medway and Bexley councils.

Schools joining the charity’s Super Wow (Walk on Wednesday) scheme by July 1 will get a 20% discount and entry into a prize draw to win 400 books.

Contact Sarah Clyne at sclyne@thekmgroup.co.uk or on 0844 264 0291 or visit www.KmWalkToSchool.co.uk/Wow