Schoolchildren across the Wokingham borough have been invited to take part in a new creative challenge aimed at reducing harmful vehicle emissions outside schools. The initiative, organised by the My Journey Wokingham team in partnership with VolkerHighways, asks pupils to produce posters reminding drivers to turn off their engines when parked. Winning entries will be professionally printed and put up at school entrances around the borough.
From futuristic travel ideas to practical anti-idling messages
The competition follows an earlier green travel contest run by My Journey Wokingham for Earth Day 2026, which drew almost 200 entries. That event encouraged children to imagine low-carbon ways to commute — entries included inventive concepts such as a solar-powered travelator, a hover-style jet-ski and multifunctional skateboards — and rewarded winners and runners-up with prizes.
Organisers say the new poster project builds on that momentum by focusing on a simple behaviour change that can reduce pollution in areas where children gather. The campaign is being positioned as a way to support healthier communities across the borough and to promote more sustainable travel habits among families.
- Who can enter: Pupils at schools across Wokingham borough.
- What to create: A poster design encouraging drivers to switch off engines when parked.
- Outcome: Winning designs transformed into banners for display at school gates.
“switch off the car’s engine when parked.”
Local implications and next steps
Putting the winning artwork on display at school gates aims to address idling — a common local issue that contributes to fine-particle and nitrogen dioxide emissions where children congregate. The project is part of My Journey Wokingham’s ongoing efforts to inspire families to travel in ways that have less environmental impact and to encourage healthier lifestyles.
Further details about participation, submission guidelines and deadlines are available on the My Journey Wokingham website. The involvement of VolkerHighways indicates a partnership between the council’s travel behaviour team and the borough’s highways contractor to bring the banners to public spaces.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Entries to Earth Day competition | Almost 200 |
| Form of new project | Poster/banner display at school gates |
By turning pupils’ creative work into public reminders, the campaign seeks to combine education with visible behavioural prompts. If widely adopted around schools in Wokingham, the initiative could help reduce localised emissions during drop-off and pick-up times, while reinforcing the borough’s broader sustainable travel objectives.
