Local schoolchildren have shown their support for a
greener Maldon District by helping to recycle old Yellow Pages directories.

Eighteen schools in the Maldon District have taken part in the Yellow Woods Challenge – the simple, educational and fun environmental campaign run by Yellow Pages, the Woodland Trust and Maldon District Council.

Pupils asked local residents to recycle their old Yellow Pages directory via the council’s kerbside collection scheme and collected the old front covers to enter the competition, whilst 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 most old directories per pupil. Wentworth Primary School scooped the prestigious ‘Gold Oak’ title and was rewarded with £300 for recycling an average of 3.37 old directories per pupil.

The ‘Silver Birch’ award and £200 prize money went to Purleigh County Primary School while Tolleshunt D’Arcy St Nicholas C of E (VA) Primary School carried off the ‘Bronze Beech’ certificate and £100 in cash. Great Totham Primary School bagged the bonus prize of £100 to the best challenge newcomer.

The top-performing schools will be attending a celebratory event on Thursday 23rd October at Wentworth Primary School in Maldon at 2pm. These 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. Maldon District Council schools have helped to recycle a grand total of 3,572 old front covers of the yellow pages directories."

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 Francis RC Primary School, Maldon Court Preparatory School, and Great Totham 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.”

Cllr. Mrs Keighley, Chairman of Maldon District Council’s Community Services Committee added: “The Yellow Woods Challenge provides an excellent opportunity for schools and residents of the Maldon District to work together towards an environmental achievement. We’re not only keeping paper out of landfill but also supporting the UK recycling industry with useful recyclable material.”

The Maldon District Council Yellow Woods 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