FOR the second year running, youngsters at Goldsborough CE Primary School have won the Yellow Woods Challenge by collecting Yellow Pages directories for this national recycling competition.  This year, they doubled their efforts and have earned their school the top prize of £400 by collecting nearly 19 directories per pupil in total they collected 1139.

 

Over recent weeks, 2,712 pupils at 20 schools across Harrogate have taken on the Yellow Woods Challenge - the simple, educational and fun schools environmental campaign run by Yellow Pages and the Woodland Trust working with Harrogate Borough Council and supported by UPM, the major paper supplier for Yellow Pages.  The schools have been collecting old Yellow Pages directories for recycling and a total of 7.7 tonnes will now be recycled into animal bedding and paper used in the newspaper industry.

 

Burnt Yates CE Aided Primary School receives this year's 'Silver Birch', winning £200, and New Park Community Primary School has come third, receiving the 'Bronze Beech' title and £100

 

All participating schools will automatically be entered into the UK Finals, where they could win a top prize of £2,000 cash. 

 

For every pound awarded to schools in prize money, a matching pound is given to the Woodland Trust to support its new 'Tree For All' campaign, which aims to help plant 12 million trees over the next five years.  Funds donated by Yellow Pages are enabling thousands of schoolchildren across the UK to plant native saplings in their school grounds and to support tree planting and school visits in the Trust's woodlands. 

 

Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, the publisher of Yellow Pages directories, said: "We're delighted with the results of the Yellow Woods Challenge in the Harrogate district and are proud to be helping so many young people understand the importance of caring for the environment and woodland."

 

Councillor Les Ellington, Cabinet Member for Environmental Health at Harrogate Borough Council, said: "This has been a fantastic competition and I thank everyone who has supported their local school and helped us protect the environment by keeping thousands of directories out of landfill."

 

For media enquiries: call Alex Rankin, Harrogate Borough Council on 01423 556906, or call Anne Codling, Yell Press Office, on 0118 950 6724.