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Pupils reach gold in Yellow Pages challenge
Last updated: 24th July 2008
School children have shown their support for a greener Bolton by recycling over 3 tonnes of old Yellow Pages directories.
Twenty-four Bolton schools took part in the Yellow Woods Challenge – the simple, educational and fun environmental campaign run by Yellow Pages, the Woodland Trust and Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council.
Pupils were encouraged to take old Yellow Pages directories into school for recycling whilst learning about green issues in the classroom. The schools competed against each other for the chance to win cash prizes from Yellow Pages for recycling the most old directories per pupil.
Blackrod Primary Schoolscooped the prestigious ‘Gold Oak’ title and was rewarded with £300 for recycling 2.44 old directories per pupil.
The ‘Silver Birch’ award and £200 prize money went to Beaumont Primary School while Horwich Parish Church of England Primary School carried off the ‘Bronze Beech’ certificate and £100 in cash.
St Catherine’s Church of England Primary School bagged the bonus prize of £100 for Outstanding Achievement.
All participating schools will receive a certificate from campaign mascot, Kirk, in recognition of their recycling efforts.
Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, the publisher of Yellow Pages directories, said: “Congratulations to all the schools that got behind the Challenge and demonstrated tremendous commitment to helping the environment. Bolton’s schools collected a grand total of 2,835 old directories, which will now be recycled.”
For every pound awarded to schools, Yellow Pages has given a matching pound to the Woodland Trust – the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. ‘Seeds to trees’ kits have also been awarded to the top three recycling schools and to St Catherine’s Church of England Primary School, SS Osmund and Andrew Roman Catholic Primary School and Eatock Primary School for achieving 4th, 5th and 6th place in the local competition.
Janice Hix, corporate partnerships manager at the Woodland Trust, said: “The Yellow Woods Challenge helps us raise valuable funds for our ‘Tree For All’ campaign – the most ambitious children’s tree-planting project ever launched in the UK. In addition, it helps teach children about looking after our native woodland and gives them a hands-on opportunity to grow and plant their own trees from seed.”
Executive member for Cleaner, Greener, Safer at Bolton Council, Councillor Elaine Sherrington, added: “Educating children at an early age about the importance of recycling is vital for ensuring our woodlands and green spaces are protected. The Yellow Woods Challenge is a fun but effective way of getting young people involved. All the schools that took part have helped to plant more trees through the Woodland Trust’s ‘Tree for All’ campaign and Blackrod Primary School pupils should be especially proud of their achievements. I hope they continue in their recycling efforts.”
The Bolton Challenge has now closed, but local schools still have the UK Awards to look forward to. Top prizes of £1,000 are on offer for schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in directory recycling, environmental education in action, community involvement and creative approach, as well as creating giant artworks from the old Yellow Pages directories. For details visit: www.yellow-woods.co.uk