Monday 25 April 2016

Walk to school with Churchill #lollipoppers


We have always walked to school through all kinds of weather. There have been weeks when it has rained and rained every day and we never thought we would see the sun again. Three weeks after my son was born the snow came and didn't leave for six weeks. I couldn't get the pram through the snow and carried my son in a sling. Every day the school was opened my daughter attended.
In the past week the walk to school and back has been a joy. The sun has been shinning and the signs of spring and new life are everywhere. As we have several routes to school that we can take you can see what has grown in the days inbetween our last visit. One particular favourite of mine is honesty. It can easily be spotted by its heart-shaped leaves from which either purple or white flowers grow out of. As the year goes on the the petals will go and in their places will be paper-thin seed heads loved by dry flower arrangers.
Blossom is everywhere at the moment and the delicate white petals looks stunning against the blue sky. Once the blossom goes it will start to be replaced by tiny cherries. When the cherries are full grown the blackbirds will flock to this tree to greedily pick off the ripe fruit.
If we go the slightly longer way to school then much of the route is away from busy roads and on traffic free paths. The kids are able to enjoy the freedom this brings as they don't have to tightly grip my hand. They are able to race each other to the next junction to decide who picks the next route to take.
The closer we get to school danger is everywhere. Cars are parked on both sides of the street taking up pavement space. If you have a pram or pushchair sometimes you end up walking in the road. The residential roads were never designed for such levels of traffic. There have been times when ambulances haven't been able to make their way through to the school. Vehicles come charging round the corners without any regard for anyone else in the vicinity.

To help ensure children get to school safely Churchill Insurance has launched their Lollipoppers campaign. They will be funding 50 lollipop men and women up and down the country to help get our kids across the roads by their schools. If you want to nominate your own school for a Lollipopper check out the nomination page.

Since the Transport Act 2000 was passed it is no longer a legal requirement for a school to have any sort of crossing patrol. Since then the number of lollipoppers has decreased with Churchill's research finding that 32% of parents have said that a lollipopper had been recently removed from their local area with a further 61% stating no crossing alternative had been put in its place.
So please support the campaign and encourage other children to walk to school. Every child should have the opportunity to enjoy the health benefits of walking and the enjoying the changing seasons in a safe manner.
I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity. 

13 comments:

  1. The school run walk is lovely when we have nice nature views like this to look at on the way! My kids also quite like the school run sledge pull when it is snowing!!

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  2. I used to love walking my son to/from school. There were a couple of different routes we could take, and it was lovely to see things changing from season to season. I figure if you're close enough to walk to school, then you really should! I live right by a school and the traffic/parking is horrendous! I'm sure many of them could walk!

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  3. what a lovely school run you have and perfect if you can get away from busy roads on the way. Near the school gate is always busy and every school should have lollipopers.

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  4. We live quite a way away from school so sadly we do have to drive, however I always park as far away from school as we can to ensure we do get a walk if all but brief on in the morning, some parents though park as close as they can and even on the zig zag lines and this angers me so much. Although we have a zebra crossing outside school people don't care and I have had to scream at my son and his friend to stop once because someone didn't stop. This is such a great idea and our school have been nominated so fingers crossed.

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  5. We walk to and from school - we have no choice as Daddy needs the car for work! I do enjoy seeing the seasons change, but could do without the regular drenchings. I find the most dangerous bit is often caused by parents who have driven to school parking all over the place when we near the building - sometimes forcing us into the road as they have blocked pavements. Drives me potty!

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  6. I used to love walking my kids to school, but I rarely do it now, it's Dad's job. We have recently lost out lollipop man which is a great shame because the road is horrendous.

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  7. My Mum was a lollipop lady! My boys always cross with their lollipop lady/ I am not sure I like the term lollipoppers!

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  8. We walk to school daily and seeing the Lollipop lady is always the highlight for the kids

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  9. My daughter's school still has a lollipop man as it is next to a dual carriageway. Johnny is the loveliest man, knows every child by name and greets them all with a big smile. Wish every school in the country had one like him!

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  10. We always walk to school as I don't have a car but I wish my walk was as pretty as yours xx

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  11. So many Lollypop ladies (and men) have vanished from the local schools here over the past few years. Well done to Churchill in funding this campaign, anything that makes the roads safer for our children can only be good.

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  12. Lack of lolly pop ladies and men and they're such a valuable resource .

    I walk to school ,

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  13. Gosh I didn't know there was no longer a need for lollipop ladies and men. POD's school has one which I'm truly grateful for as the parking around school is dreadful - like the always late folk who take up the whole pavement. We have to drive to school but always park up the road then head to the lollipop lady

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