UK youngsters hit back of the net in Yellow Pages recycling scheme - 15 June 2006
More than 1.3 million youngsters across the UK have scored a fantastic goal for the environment, helping to raise enough money to plant the equivalent of 30 football pitches (12.2 hectares) of new woodland in the UK.The schoolchildren have been collecting old Yellow Pages directories for recycling and competing for cash prizes in the Yellow Woods Challenge, the schools environmental competition run by Yellow Pages, working with the Woodland Trust and local authorities across the UK.
For every pound Yellow Pages has awarded to schools since the campaign began in 2002, a matching pound has been given to the Woodland Trust - the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. The total raised for the Trust currently stands at an impressive £196,500.
News of the funding for woodland creation coincides with the World Cup in Germany. Claimed to be the world’s first ‘climate neutral’ sports event by organisers FIFA*, the tournament provides a significant reminder of everyone’s responsibilities to safeguard the environment.
Janice Hix, corporate fundraising manager at the Woodland Trust, said: “This is a fantastic achievement by schools and particularly timely with everyone’s attention falling on the World Cup.”
“The UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe while World Cup host nation, Germany, enjoys a mid-table position in terms of woodland cover.** We need to invest in a greener future and yet England and Northern Ireland are languishing in the relegation position when it comes to woodland provision.”
Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, publisher of Yellow Pages directories, said: “The Yellow Woods Challenge has really helped youngsters learn about recycling, the environment and the importance of woodland conservation. We are delighted that our funding can support the Trust with planting and caring for so much woodland in the UK.”
