Horsforth Climate Action host week of events for Walk to School Week

By Jill Stocks

Horsforth Climate Action hosted a number of events for Walk to School Week, encouraging children and their families to walk, scoot or cycle to school.

The aim of the week was to reduce air pollution, highlight sustainable forms of transport, promote a healthier lifestyle and to get children to travel to school by means that did not include a vehicle – by foot, cycle, scooter or even skateboard!

The week’s activities were part of a number of city wide events for Walk to School Week funded by Climate Action Leeds. 

Prior to the week’s events HCA organised a bike fix by Oddbikes at Horsforth Farmers Market where children could take their bikes for service or repair in readiness for Walk to School Week. 

Across the week there were also some fabulous postbox toppers from Horsforth Postbox Toppers across the town celebrating the local area and nature for children and parents to try and spot and enjoy on their way to school. 

HCA were joined by Freelance Hub Worker Etty O’Toole, funded by CAL, who brought together all of the schools for the week’s activities. One school, St Mary’s, were unfortunately unable to take part due to prior engagements but would have liked to have done so.

Throughout the week, as well as for the week before and after, pollution monitoring took place outside the participating primary schools. 

The pollution monitors were purchased with support from the Leeds Together Fund and will be available for schools and other groups to use in the future.

Etty, assisted by volunteers, organised a number of outdoor lessons for pupils from all of the schools involved where they could learn more about nature, pollution, climate change and how to prevent climate change. 

On Thursday year 2 pupils from Broadgate School took part in activities in Hall Park in the morning identifying trees and bark rubbing.

In the afternoon year 5 pupils from Newlaithes did a tree aging survey which gauges the efficiency of the trees to capture the CO2 produced.

In addition pupils from all the schools will use the data from these activities, which were designed to look at biodiversity in the park and the part trees play in the reduction of CO2 gases, as well as the pollution monitoring data, in maths, science and English lessons. 

Families were encouraged to sign the walk to School Week Pledge which asked: “Can you imagine if every family worked together to keep cars away from the streets near our schools? We know the morning is such a rush, and it’s not possible for everyone. But will you give it a go? For one week? 

“You can pledge to leave the car behind OR to park in a designated Park and Stride area. Make the school streets  safer for walking, cycling and scooting. Reduce congestion and air pollution, and give our children a healthy start of the day.”

It is intended to survey those who signed in due course to see how or if their behaviour has changed as a result of the week and if they have continued to walk, cycle or scoot to school. 

Pupils also submitted entries for competitions. One was to design posters about reducing car use and how our behaviour can affect the environment which will be made into signs for outside the schools.

Cllr Emmie Bromley (Lab, Horsforth) was part of the team choosing the winners. She said: “Several poster designs were chosen, with such striking messages and artistic layout. Really looking forward to seeing these out and about around Horsforth.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to be asked to even be a small part in this, meeting the fantastic Etty and reminiscing on Newlaithes.”

They also created designs for a Walk to School Week mascot and a badge. The badges with the winning design will be distributed to pupils who took part in the week along with a certificate.

Jenny Morgan from HCA was keen to acknowledge the work that had gone into the week’s events. 

“Etty has done an amazing job of galvanising the schools and the community to get involved,” Jenny said.

“We’ve had support from some amazing volunteers, we literally would not have been able to do something this big without them. 

“We also need to acknowledge the time and commitment of the schools and the teachers in helping to get this off the ground.”

HCA has several events coming up in the next couple of months for all ages, including the Kidical Mass Ride on Saturday June 7 where there will be a display of the posters designed for Walk to School Week. 

HCA is one of several hubs across the city committed to helping Leeds become carbon neutral by 2030. 

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