Derry schools get Pounds for Yellow Pages

Monday, 28th November, 2005

Schools in Derry are set to cash in on a competition to recycle as many old Yellow Pages directories as they can.

The Yellow Woods Challenge is the environmental schools competition run by Yellow Pages, working with the Woodland Trust and Derry City Council. Schools that collect the most directories per pupil will win hundreds of pounds in cash prizes and for every pound awarded to schools, Yellow Pages will give a matching pound to the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.

The Mayor, Cllr Lynn Fleming, endorsing the campaign at today’s launch at the Conference Room. Civic Offices, said she felt it was a very worthwhile project. “I am very supportive of any initiative that encourages local children to help the environment. This is a very innovative project and I am delighted at the number of schools participating.”

All participating schools will receive free educational materials featuring the campaign mascot, Kirk – a woodland creature that makes learning about recycling and the environment fun for children. Schoolchildren are also invited to create giant sculptures out of their old directories for the chance to win cash prizes of up to £1,000.

The Derry City Council Challenge starts in late November 2005 when the new edition of the Yellow Pages directory is delivered to homes and businesses, and will run until January 20th, 2006. The directories will be recycled into Egg Boxes by Huhtamaki Paper Reprocessors in Lurgan.

Residents are encouraged to give their old 04/05 edition to a participating school or recycle it via any paper back within the Derry City Council area.

Julie Hannaway, Waste Minimisation and Recycling Officer with Derry City Council Council, said: “We hope schools will really get the recycling bug and, with the help of the local community, stop directories going to landfill.”

Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, the publisher of Yellow Pages, said: “This is the fourth year that we have run the Challenge nationally and the enthusiasm and results among schools and local authorities continues to grow. It’s a simple and fun way for children to learn about the importance of recycling and their local environment.”

For more information visit: www.yellow-woods.co.uk or call Julie Hannaway, Waste Minimisation and Recycling Officer, Derry City Council on 02871365151

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact the Marketing and Communications Section, Derry City Council,. Tel 028 71376504 or call Kat Gillow, Citigate SMARTS on 028 9039 5528.

Notes to editors

Participating schools to date:
The following schools have signed up for the Derry City Council Yellow Woods Challenge:
Belmont House School
Carnhill Nursery School
Cumber Claudy Primary School
Greenhaw Primary School
Hollybush Primary and Nursery School
Holy Family Primary School
Longtower Primary School
Model Primary School
Mullabuoy Primary School
Nazareth House Primary School
Newbuildings Primary School
Oakgrove Integrated Primary School
Rosemount Primary School
St Annes Primary School
ST Johns Primary School
St Mary’s Secondary School
St Marys Primary School, Altinure
St Patricks and St Brigids College Claudy
St Pauls Primary School
Trench Road Primary School

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