A total of 2,317 schools and 556,072 schoolchildren participated in the Yellow Woods Challenge 2007 to make it the most successful Challenge to date.

All schools that took part were automatically entered into the UK Recycling Champion awards. The title and £2,000 was awarded by Yellow Pages to each of the three winning schools that recycled the UK’s highest number of old Yellow Pages directories per pupil in their school size category.

West Alvington Church of England Primary School
Winner of the small school category (120 pupils or fewer)

With only 39 pupils, West Alvington Church of England Primary School in Kingsbridge, Devon was a deserving winner, with each pupil recycling a massive 73.8 old Yellow Pages directories.

"The children were thrilled when they learnt we had won the national award. We’d like to thank everyone who donated their old Yellow Pages directory to our school.

“Our pupils are yet to decide how to spend our £2,000 prize money; suggestions have included creating a wildlife area on the parish field, providing more picnic benches for lunchtimes and installing solar energy panels.”

Colin Butler, headteacher

Talbot House Preparatory School
Winner of the medium school category (121 – 250 pupils)

Talbot House Preparatory School, situated in Bournemouth, Dorset scooped the medium school title for an unprecedented second year in a row. Its 130 pupils went one step further this year, increasing their previous average of 26.3 directories recycled per pupil to a fantastic 29.4 old Yellow Pages directories.

“This competition is a great opportunity for our pupils to contribute practically to looking after the environment and plays an effective part in raising the profile of recycling in our community.

"We’d like to thank everyone who played a part in helping us win the award. The £2,000 prize money will go towards our playground fund – another very special whole school project.”

Charlotte Oosthuizen, headteacher

Canada Hill Primary School
Winner of the large school category (251 pupils or more)

The 291 pupils at Canada Hill Primary School in East Ogwell, Devon, pulled out all the stops to recycle an impressive 13.6 old directories per pupil, clinching them this year’s title and £2,000 prize.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our local community and we’d like to thank everyone who helped the school recycle so many old Yellow Pages directories.

“The £2,000 prize money will go towards some major playground improvements, including a timber activity trail for the children to enjoy at playtimes.”
Alan Bartlett, Key Stage 2 leader


For every pound awarded to the schools in prize money, a matching pound has been given by Yellow Pages to the Woodland Trust’s ‘Tree For All’ campaign – the most ambitious children’s tree-planting project ever launched in the UK.