PUPILS enjoyed a cycling adventure on Thursday to celebrate national Bike To School Week.

Sustrans, the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle, led a group of year 5 children from Moulsecoomb Primary School, Brighton, on a bike ride to a campsite in Lewes.

On a wild and blustery night they set up tipis, cooked over an open fire and enjoyed nature activities run by Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Lucy Dance, Sustrans Bike It Officer, said: “It was an absolute joy leading this ride. I loved seeing so many children excited to be out on their bikes and spending time in nature, despite the windy weather.

“At Sustrans we encourage people to choose active modes of travel rather than taking the car for short, everyday journeys. By helping children to feel confident and enthusiastic about riding bikes, we’re able to support them and their families to make those choices.

“This in turn has benefits for the whole community, helping to reduce congestion and air pollution in the city.”

For many of the pupils this was the first time they had stayed away from home. They said they missed home but they would love to do it again. The children said they particularly enjoyed the campfire stories by their teacher Calvin Cumiskey.

Moulsecoomb Primary has been working with Sustrans for nine years to encourage children to lead an active lifestyle and to feel confident to ride their bikes to get to school.

Together they have run a bike club over those nine years and have seen a huge increase in the numbers of children who can ride a bike, from 50 per cent at the beginning of the project, to almost 100 per cent across the school now.

Every child in the school takes part in regular biking activities. These include learn-to-ride sessions, nurture groups for children who need more support and a whole-school cycle sports day.

Ian Smith, school bike champion at Moulsecoomb Primary, said: “We really see the value in building excitement for children around riding bikes and this camp did exactly that.

“The children thoroughly enjoyed the ride and the nature activities and camp were an added bonus. We will continue to work hard to support children and families to choose active travel.”

Bike To School Week is a national event that ran from September 23 to 27. Only two per cent of primary school children in England travel to school by cycle, a stark contrast to levels in places such as in the Netherlands, where cycling is the main mode of transport for 49 per cent of such children.

Sustrans says more needs to be done to make cycling an easy, safe and appealing option.