Thousand of children take part in Harrogate's first official Walk to School Day
The event's been organised by Zero Carbon Harrogate to promote more active travel in the district
Students across Harrogate district are taking part in the town's first ever Walk to School Day today (18 June 2021) to do their bit in the fight against climate change.
Over 7000 children in 18 secondary and primary schools across the will aim to leave the car at home and instead either walk, cycle, or 'park and stride' to walk the last mile to their school, in an effort to tackle carbon emissions.
Zero Carbon Harrogate, a volunteer-led charity, has created the first Harrogate District Walk to School Day.
Today's event is the start of an ongoing campaign to build better transport habits through regular half-termly Walk to School Days.
Some of the students taking part are at Harrogate Grammar School and Assistant Head, Alison Smith is hoping the event will encourage them to talk more actively about climate change.
She said: "We've got our entire cohort of school being challenge and to give them that sort of empowerment to start the conversation amongst their friends and back home and feel that they are doing something positive.
"Still students have masks in public places around school and I think for them just being able to step outside, being in nature a little bit and having that freedom will be really refreshing.
"It gives a positive spin to students who perhaps feel with climate change they don't have that voice. And if it's something positive that they're doing actively and their community is getting involved then that feels a bit more optimistic for them looking forward to the future.
"For students if you put something in their minds they will talk about it and reflect on that particularly if you're giving them nuggets of information to get the ball rolling."
The group are also hoping to launch a wider campaign, Car Free Fridays, set to start in the Autumn during the Harrogate District Climate Action Festival.
It's hoped it will not only to reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and congestion, but also to improve pupil health and wellbeing through active travel.
In a statement, Zero Carbon Harrogate, said: "Often children do not feel they have a voice when it comes to climate change, but a Walk to School Day is something that empowers children to cut their family's carbon emissions through their own actions."