Yellow Pages recycling creates funds to plant trees

Schoolchildren across Three Rivers have been busy recycling old Yellow Pages directories again this year, winning hundreds of pounds for their schools and raising enough money to plant and care for 70 native trees across England, one of the least wooded countries in Europe.

22 local schools took on the Yellow Woods Challenge this autumn - the simple, educational and fun environmental campaign for schools run by Yellow Pages directories, the Woodland Trust and Three Rivers District Council.

Schools enjoyed competing against each other, recycling a total of 3031 old Yellow Pages directories. St Paul's C of E Primary School in Langleybury beat off all competition to take the 'Gold Oak' title for the second year running and win £300 for recycling an average of 1.88 directories per pupil. Maple Cross JMI School was named the 'Silver Birch' winner and received £200, while Royal Masonic School for Girls (Prep Department) was rewarded with £100 and the 'Bronze Beech' title. St Meryl JMI won £100 for outstanding achievement in their first year.

Councillor Phil Brading, Portfolio Holder for Public Services and Health at Three Rivers District Council, said:
"This year our local schools have taken the competition to a new level, recycling almost double the number of yellow pages directories they recycled last year. This just goes to show how important green issues are for our children, and how much they care about their environment. I congratulate all of our schools for their achievements.''

For every pound Yellow Pages gives to schools, it donates a matching pound to the Woodland Trust. The Woodland Trust will use the money to support its Tree for All campaign - the most ambitious children's tree-planting project ever launched in the UK.

For more information about the local and national Yellow Woods Challenge competition, residents can visit www.yellow-woods.co.uk.

Some background information

Yellow Woods Challenge
The Yellow Woods Challenge is run by Yellow Pages, working with the Woodland Trust and up to 100 local authorities across the UK. 'Kirk' is the campaign mascot - a cartoon characterisation of a woodland minibeast. The 2008 Challenge aims to involve at least 2,500 schools and 500,000 schoolchildren. The campaign aims to recycle old Yellow Pages directories and save landfill; educate children about the environment and support the Woodland Trust's 'Tree For All' tree planting campaign.

Schools collecting the most Yellow Pages directories per pupil win cash prizes. Locally, £700 will be shared by winning schools. Nationally, a prize fund of £12,250 will reward recycling, community involvement, education in action and sculpture building. For every pound Yellow Pages awards to schools in cash prizes, a matching pound is given to the Woodland Trust. For further details, visit: www.yellow-woods.co.uk, email: yellow.woods@yellgroup.com or call 0118 950 6724.

Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people's understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free. Further news can be found at www.woodland-trust.org.uk/yell

The Woodland Trust's 'Tree for All' campaign grew from a simple vision - that every child should have the chance to plant trees. The most ambitious children's tree-planting project ever launched in the UK, it will help plant 12 million trees giving one million children the chance to make a positive difference. For further details, visit: www.treeforall.org.uk