Pupils put best foot forward for new park and walk scheme

Over 30 pupils at Arborfield, Barkham and Newland Junior School stepped towards a healthier lifestyle as they kicked off Wokingham's first rural park and walk scheme last month.

Building on the success of walking buses in the district, the park and walk scheme allows parents to drive their children to an allocated drop-off point before they are walked to school under the supervision of security-checked parent volunteers. The school has used some of its £4,765 Travel Plan grant from Wokingham District Council to provide fluorescent tabards for everyone taking part in the scheme. Once the park and walk scheme is established, the council hopes that other schools in rural parts of the district will follow Arborfield's lead.

Walk to school schemes are designed to reduce traffic congestion at the school gates at the start and end of the school day. Parents spend less time sat in traffic and children benefit from a healthy start to the school day.

Having joined parents and pupils on the early morning walk, council chairman Malcolm Bryant said: "Schemes such as this rely on the community working together and I really hope that it will go from strength to strength as more people realise the benefits a park and walk scheme can offer."

For further information contact schools' travel plan coordinator Jodie Comerford on (0118) 974 6488.