Schoolchildren Go For Gold In Recycling Challenge

Friday, 25 November 2005

Pupils from all participating schools will launch the annual environmental competition run by Yellow Pages, working with the Woodland Trust and Derry City Council.

19 schools across the region are getting ready to compete against each other to recycle as many old Yellow Pages directories as possible, while learning about recycling and the environment through Kirk’s classroom activities.

The school that collects the most directories per pupil will be crowned the ‘Gold Oak’ champion and will win £300 from Yellow Pages.

A total of £700 is on offer in the Derry City Council Challenge and for every pound awarded to schools, Yellow Pages will give a matching pound to the Woodland Trust.

For further information, contact Julie Hannaway, Derry City Council on 02871365151 or call Kat Gillow, Citigate SMARTS on 028 9039 5528.

Notes to editors

Yellow Woods Challenge

The Yellow Woods Challenge is run by Yellow Pages, working with the Woodland Trust and local authorities across the UK. Kirk, the campaign mascot, is a cartoon characterisation of a woodland creature - he is a 'minibeast' that recycles leaf litter.

The Yellow Woods Challenge 2006 aims to involve 90 local authorities, 1,800 schools and 350,000 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 from a total UK prize fund of £75,000. Locally, prizes worth £700 will be shared by schools in each participating local authority area. For every pound given to schools in cash prizes, a pound will be given to the Woodland Trust. The top six schools in an area will win native tree saplings to plant in their school ground. For further details, visit: www.yellow-woods.co.uk, email: yellow.woods@yellgroup.com or call 0118 950 6999.

Woodland Trust

The 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

For media enquiries contact: Ioan Reed-Aspley, corporate, PR & communications officer on 01476 581112, email ioanreedaspley@woodland-trust.org.uk or the Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk

For additional information contact:

Press Office