Lancaster district youngsters make tonnes of difference to the environment
Local schoolchildren have shown their support for a greener Lancaster district by recycling more than 6,550 old Yellow Pages directories.
Lancaster district youngsters make tonnes of difference to the environment
Local schoolchildren have shown their support for a greener Lancaster district by recycling more than 6,550 old Yellow Pages directories.
This year a record number of schools, 24, in the Lancaster district took part in the Yellow Woods Challenge – the simple, educational and fun environmental campaign run by Yellow Pages, the Woodland Trust and Lancaster City Council.
Pupils were encouraged to bring 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.
Cawthorne's Endowed School from Abbeystead scooped the prestigious ‘Gold Oak’ title and was rewarded with £300 for recycling 25.34 old directories per pupil.
The ‘Silver Birch’ award and £200 prize money went to Arkholme C.E. Primary School while Silverdale C.E. Primary School carried off the ‘Bronze Beech’ certificate and £100 in cash. Stepping Stones School bagged the bonus prize of £100 for Best Newcomer.
The top-performing schools will be honoured at a celebratory event held at Lancaster Town Hall on October 8 at 1.30pm. 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. Schools from the Lancaster district collected a grand total of 6,550 old directories, which will now be recycled into pet bedding.”
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 Hornby St Margarets CE Primary, Stepping Stones School and St Patrick’s Catholic 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.”
Coun Jon Barry, Lancaster City Council's cabinet member with responsibility for recycling, added: “"The Yellow Woods Challenge provides an excellent opportunity for school children to recycle material that would otherwise go to landfill and create dangerous greenhouse gases. Congratulations to the winners and all the schools that took part."
The Lancaster district 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.
Date Updated: 19/03/09