Housing developer Taylor Wimpey is encouraging families to walk to school this autumn – and has given children at Trimley St Martin Primary hi-viz snap bands to help them get started.
The firm, currently building new homes at its Cavendish Grove development in the village, gave 205 safety bands for pupils to wear.
Headteacher Samantha Ross thanked the company for its generous donation.
She said: “Children really do benefit from walking to school – not only is the exercise healthy for them, but it also helps reduce the amount of traffic outside school, which is safer for them too.”
According to Living Streets, the charity that organises the Walk to School campaign in the UK, only 21% of boys and 16% of girls meet the current recommended daily level of exercise of 60 minutes of physical activity.
A generation ago, 70% of youngsters walked to school, but now it’s less than half – and during morning peak traffic times, one in five cars on the road are taking children to school, contributing to congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.
Caroline Carter, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey, said: “We are proud to be supporting Walk to School Month again this year and are delighted to be working in partnership with Trimley St Martin Primary School to help encourage families to leave the car at home and set off for school on foot instead.
“Walking is a great habit for youngsters to get into early in life, so we hope our snap bands will add some fun to the journey to school, as well as keeping them safe on the way.”
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