CHILDREN from Holmes Chapel will join thousands of other across the UK to celebrate the benefits of walking to school next week (May 17-21).

Pupils from Hermitage and Holmes Chapel Primary Schools will take part in Walk to School Week, as part of the village's ongoing campaign for Safe Walking Routes to School.

Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking as part of their National Walking Month campaign each May.

Families are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that come from small steps, from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.

This year’s challenge will focus on the ‘walking superpowers’ that benefit individuals, communities and the planet.

Holmes Chapel Partnership is leading the event next Wednesday, which will see children and their families walking two of the most popular routes to school, celebrating walking, while also highlight the ongoing need to reduce road safety risks throughout the village.

“A generation ago 70 per cent of pupils walked to school – now it’s less than half,” commented Hazel Sutcliffe, chair of Holmes Chapel Partnership.

“Families in our village want to walk to school but many of them are telling us they simply don’t feel safe and confident enough on Holmes Chapel routes to do so.

"It’s critical that as the village continues to grow, Cheshire East Council makes positive changes to improve our walking routes and support the government’s commitment to Active Travel for all.

"We have over 2,000 children being educated in our village, every one of them deserves to be able to travel to school safely for the benefit of both their physical and mental health.”

During Walk to School week, pupils in Holmes Chapel will also enjoy Living Streets’ Walk to School Week classroom packs, filled with activities to complete on the way to school and in the classroom.

Each day, pupils will be introduced to a brand new ‘Walking Superpower’ taking the form of a fun comic-book inspired design. ‘Super Strong’, ‘Super Smart’, ‘Super Smiley’, ‘Super Safe’ and ‘Super Sustainable’ will teach pupils about the benefits of being active and reinforce the power of walking.

Daily reward stickers and special reward badges are up for grabs at the end of the week for those who travelled actively every day.

Last year, almost 200,000 children across the country took part in Walk to School Week with this year looking to be bigger than ever.

Mary Creagh, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “Walk to School Week is a fun, inclusive, free and simple activity, which improves the physical and mental wellbeing of children and celebrates walking for all.

“Pupils enjoy the health and happiness that comes from walking, while schools and local communities enjoy reduced congestion and pollution.

“We’re thrilled that families nationwide are joining us this week and enjoying the fresh air, fun, freedom, and friendship that walking to school brings.”