Maldon schools triumph in Yellow Woods Challenge - 21 October 2003
Youngsters at Wentworth Primary School in Maldon have won £300 to help improve their environment after collecting the most Yellow Pages directories locally in a new schools recycling initiative.The Yellow Woods Challenge, run by Yellow Pages, the Directory Recycling Scheme and the Woodland Trust working together with Maldon District Council, offered local schools cash prizes in return for recycling old directories. The Challenge aimed to educate schoolchildren about the importance of recycling and conservation, reduce the amount of paper going to landfill and to support the Woodland Trust.
Wentworth Primary School, came first, collecting 1,208 old directories - the equivalent of 2.7 per pupil, and now receives its top cash prize from Yellow Pages to spend on improving the school’s environment.
Maldon Court Preparatory School, Maldon came second, collecting 1.66 directories per pupil and winning £200. St. Francis Primary School, Maldon came third, collecting 1.65 Yellow Pages per pupil and winning £100.
The Yellow Woods Challenge is a simple, fun and educational competition that also aims to help the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. For every pound Yellow Pages has awarded to schools, a pound will be donated to the Woodland Trust to help protect native woodland.
In total, fourteen schools and 5,066 pupils across the Maldon District took on the Yellow Woods Challenge, collecting 2,871 old Yellow Pages in just five weeks.
Each school that participated will be given a certificate, named after a woodland tree, according to the total number of directories collected. The six schools that collected the most directories in total will win CD-roms and videos to teach children about the wonders of ancient woodland.
All the schools from the Maldon District Challenge will automatically be entered into the Yellow Woods Challenge UK Finals where they will compete with up to 1,000 schools across the UK to win one of three top prizes of £2,000.
Michelle Keene, waste management officer with Maldon District Council, said: "This has been a very exciting competition and we are delighted that teachers and pupils have shown such enthusiasm during the Challenge."
Richard Duggleby, head of external relations with Yell, the publisher of Yellow Pages, said: "The response of schoolchildren is a very encouraging indication of how seriously they take issues relating to the environment and its protection. I’d like to thank the Council for organising the Yellow Woods Challenge in the Maldon District and also congratulate all the children, teachers and parents who worked so hard to make the Challenge a success."
Further information about the Yellow Woods Challenge and environmental educational materials can be obtained from: www.yellgroup.com
For media enquiries, please contact Michelle Keene at Maldon District Council on 01621 685354 or call Adam Billiald, the Directory Recycling Scheme, on 028 8023 6806.
Note to Editors:
Yellow Woods Challenge
The Yellow Woods Challenge is an exciting new initiative from Yellow Pages, The Directory Recycling Scheme and the Woodland Trust. The Challenge involves working with local authorities and recycling organisations to encourage the recycling of Yellow Pages directories, save landfill, educate children about the environment and help keep UK woodland alive.
The Yellow Woods Challenge 2002/03 aims to involve up to 1000 schools in challenges across the UK. Schools that collect the most Yellow Pages directories can win cash prizes from a total prize fund of £36,000. For every pound given to schools in cash prizes, a pound will be donated to the Woodland Trust. For further details, email: yellow.woods@yellgroup.com or call 023 8023 6806.
Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages are published by Yell, a leading international directories business operating in the classified advertising market through printed, online and telephone-based media. Yell’s products in the UK also include the Business Pages directory, Yell.com, Yellow Pages 118 24 7 and in the US, Yellow Book and Yellowbook.com.
The Directory Recycling Scheme
The Directory Recycling Scheme, sponsored by Yellow Pages, works with local authorities to encourage an increase in the number of Yellow Pages directories that UK households recycle. It runs a freephone helpline (0800 671 444)* for the public to call to find out the nearest recycling point for their old Yellow Pages. Internet users can find this information via www.yellgroup.com
* Lines open Monday - Friday from 8.30am - 5.30pm
The Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: a) No further loss of ancient woodland; b) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; c) Increasing new native woodland; d) Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,100 sites in its care covering approximately 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk
For media enquiries contact: Simon Hopkinson, Corporate Communications Officer on 01476 581112 or 07786 110003, email simonhopkinson@woodland-trust.org.uk or the Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
