Nine young designers were named winners of the national competition and are now seeing their creations turned into collectable badges for thousands of pupils nationwide to earn when they walk to school.  

The winning artist for January, James Lundy, was at Mossneuk Primary School when he entered the competition but is now at Duncanrig Secondary School. He said: “I chose to draw an otter because it is one of my favourite animals and it is in danger.”

The WOW Badge Design Competition is organised by Living Streets, the charity behind the national walk to school campaign. More than 90,000 primary school pupils nationwide entered the competition, with nine winners being chosen by a panel of experts from the Design Council. 

This year’s badge competition theme was ‘Walk for the World’, with pupils asked to consider the contribution that traffic pollution makes to carbon emissions and to research and draw wildlife or a natural habitat affected by climate change. Winning designs include an orangutan, polar bear, toucan and an American Pika. 

The winning designs will now be turned into more than 300,000 badges to be awarded to pupils taking part in WOW – the walk to school challenge from Living Streets. 

Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Roads Safety Forum, Councillor Julia Marrs, said: “Congratulations to James on his winning design and well done to everyone who entered.

“Although a fun competition which will grab young people’s attention, the message is a serious one and one which we are happy to support.”

WOW sees pupils who walk, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride to school at least once a week for a month rewarded with the recyclable badges. 

The first of the winning designs was awarded in November 2021 to coincide with the start of COP26 in Glasgow. This month Living Streets is delighted to be awarding another winner in Scotland, as part of this year’s WOW programme.   

Stephen Edwards, Interim CEO, Living Streets said: “WOW is a great way to help keep children healthy and happy by encouraging them to be active every day. More children walking to school also means fewer cars around the school gates - making them safer and cleaner places. 

“We hope this set of WOW badges will help pupils understand that by walking to school they are playing their part in fighting climate change - protecting wildlife and natural habitats for the future.”