A RECORD number of Cambridgeshire pupils will be putting their heart and sole into National Walk To School Week. From Monday, May 19, some 20,000 primary and nursery pupils from 105 schools across the County will be taking part in the special week. The we

A RECORD number of Cambridgeshire pupils will be putting their heart and sole into National Walk To School Week.

From Monday, May 19, some 20,000 primary and nursery pupils from 105 schools across the County will be taking part in the special week.

The week is part of a hugely successful, UK-wide campaign to get families to leave their cars at home and walk to school.

This year, pupils will be exploring the local environment through sound and finding out just how much experience gets missed each day by being cocooned in cars - whether that's the tweeting of birds or the sound of their friends' voices. It is also an opportunity to highlight the benefits of children getting to know their communities through walking to school.

Jo Fricker, Cambridgeshire County Council's School Travel Adviser, said:

"It is fantastic that so many schools are taking part in May's Walk to School Week. Walking to school is a great way to include physical activity into the day whether it is for pupils, parents and carers."

Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Living Streets (the charity which organises Walk to School week) said: "By leaving the car at home you save money on petrol, avoid parking hassles at the school gate, teach your children valuable road-safety skills and do your bit for the environment."

Walk to School week is a firm feature in the academic calendar and this year it's an opportunity to make some noise about how important the journey to school is. Similar events will be held throughout the country, ensuring the message gets out all over the UK.