Borough of Telford & Wrekin

Telford and Wrekin youngsters make a difference

12 May

Local schoolchildren have given their support to a greener Telford and Wrekin by helping to recycle 16.6 tonnes of old Yellow Pages directories in the borough.

Forty eight schools across the borough have taken part in the Yellow Woods Challenge - the simple, educational and fun environmental campaign run by Yellow Pages, the Woodland Trust and Telford & Wrekin Council.

Pupils asked local residents, friends and family to give them their old Yellow Pages directories for recycling when the new one was delivered, while also learning about important green issues in the classroom. The schools competed against each other for the chance to win cash prizes from Yellow Pages for recycling the highest number of old directories per pupil.

Aqueduct Primary School scooped the 'Gold Oak' title and was awarded with £300 for recycling 6.12 old directories per pupil.

The 'Silver Birch' award and £200 prize money went to St Lawrence Primary School while Southall School carried off the 'Bronze Beech' certificate and £100 in cash.

Hadley Learning Community (Primary Phase) bagged the bonus prize of £100 for being the best newcomer in this year's local Challenge.

The top-performing schools were presented with their awards at a celebratory event held at Aqueduct primary School . All the schools who took part will receive a certificate from campaign mascot, Kirk, (pictured) 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. Telford & Wrekin schools have helped to recycle a grand total of 11,767 old directories, which will now be turned into packaging."

For every £ awarded to schools, Yellow Pages has given a matching £ 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 Lawley Primary School, St Georges Church of England Primary School and Newport Infants 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."

Cllr Steven Bentley, cabinet Member for Environment and Regeneration at Telford & Wrekin Council, added: "The Yellow Woods Challenge provides a great opportunity for schools and residents of Telford to work together on an environmental learning project. In addition to diverting this material from landfill we're helping to inform the next generation about the importance of recycling."

The Telford and Wrekin 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



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