THE GREEN SHOP AND SUSTRANS ADD SOME COLOUR TO THE NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK

September 10 2003

In early summer 2003 Sustrans launched a competition for schools, sponsored by The Green Shop, to paint a milepost on the national cycle network. Here's an update:

It was a busy summer term in schools around the country but plenty found time to bring a little colour to the national cycle network. There are now fifty or so newly Green Painted mileposts showing the way around the national cycleways. With a little luck another fifty schools will be joining in this term.

The whole thing started when Sustrans was looking for a suitable partner for their 'paint a milepost' competition. With the emphasis on the environmental and health benefits of cycling it was natural to select our award winning Green Paint for the job.

Over one hundred schools took up the challenge and Lynn spent a few days up to her elbows in a rainbow assortment of cans making up paint kits for all the schools.

Teams of 10-12 year olds worked with their teachers to design and paint the mileposts. The prizes have not yet been awarded but we think all the school deserve but from the photos we've seen it looks like the kids did a brilliant job - the mileposts look just fantastic!

Lynn Edwards, the natural paint expert at The Green Shop says, "We were delighted to help out with this project. Most of us here are keen cyclists and really appreciate what Sustrans has done to encourage cycling."

"We also hope the children taking part in the competition will learn that Green Paints are a bit different. They're based on soya oil, a sustainable resource, and not chemicals derived from oil like most other gloss paints. Not only that but they work just as well if not better than their chemical counterparts and are much more child friendly. Spills can just be washed off with soap and water", she added.