19 December 2008
Musician David Gray has chosen Coed Dolifor, Powys, as his favourite woodland walk in support of the Woodland Trust
“Recycle your cards with the Woodland Trust this Christmas”, he says Musician David Gray has named Coed Dolifor in Powys as his favourite woodland to walk off the excesses of Christmas.
He has been talking about his love of woods in support of the Woodland Trust’s annual Christmas Card Recycling Scheme.
It involves people recycling their Christmas cards in bins at WHSmith1, Tesco2, TK Maxx3 and M&S4, throughout January and leads to 1,000s of trees being planted in the UK.
The scheme is part of the charity’s drive to increase woodland cover in the UK, as Wales only has 13% woodland cover – compared to a the European average of 44%.
David Gray is challenging people to visit one of Wales’ 125 Woodland Trust sites.
Best known for his chart hits “Babylon” and “Please Forgive Me", David Gray grew up in Solva is Pembrokeshire and and attended the Carmarthenshire College of Art.
He says: "As much as I love playing and listening to music, sometimes you need a little silence in your life and what better place to find it than out in the woods? Let the fresh air clear your head and blow away any cobwebs and you'll feel so much better for it, believe me.
“Then there's the natural beauty of woodlands. Take Coed Dolifor for instance, a Woodland Trust wood in Powys with incredible views over the Wye Valley. It's an inspiring place and I urge you to take a winter walk there this Christmas.
“If you want to help keep places like this special, why not take part in the Woodland Trust’s Christmas Card Recycling Scheme. Collect as many cards as you can because more cards mean more trees!"
Sue Holden, Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, said: “A walk in your local wood is a fantastic way to spend Boxing Day. While you enjoy your visit please think about recycling your cards with the Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme. The trees which will be planted from the money generated this January will help plant more wonderful woodland for people to enjoy forever.”
Last year the Woodland Trust collected 73.6 million Christmas cards which enabled the charity to plant 17,000 trees in some of its 1,000 UK woods.
The trees are paid for by income from recycling credits, which is income paid by local authorities for waste that does not have to be disposed of in landfill sites.
For more information on the Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme log onto www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/cards
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or Robert Lane or Alex Claydon -Corporate PR & Communications Officers, on 0845 293 5691 or 0845 293 5605 or 01476 581112, email: robertlane@woodlandtrust.org.uk; alexclaydon@woodlandtrust.org.uk;
The Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme.
The cards collected in stores are taken to WHSmith, Tesco, TK Maxx and M&S depots, where they are collected by their own recycling agents (Severnside for Tesco, SCA Recycling for WHSmith and TK Maxx, and Severnside for M&S). The cards are then graded and taken to recycling plants where they are treated and eventually turned into new products such as tissue paper, photocopy paper or corrugated cardboard.
Participating stores
1 UK mainland WHSmith high street stores only – (excludes all WHSmith Travel stores, Isle of Wight, Belfast and Channel Islands).
2 All Tesco supermarkets including selected Express stores
3 Only stores in the UK and Northern Ireland
4 All M&S stores including selected M&S Simply Food stores. Excludes Channel Islands and Isle on Man.
Recycling Credits
Money is raised through recycling credits. A recycling credit is the value of the saving made by the County Council in NOT having to landfill any household waste that is recycled. The County Council chooses to pay this saving in disposal costs back to any voluntary or community groups that are involved in collecting household waste for recycling (in the case of the CCRS – the Woodland Trust) because they wish to promote recycling in their area. The value of the credit varies across the different Districts due to differences in disposal costs, and is paid for each tonne of household waste that is recycled. The value of the credit increases each year with RPI (Retail Price Index) and with any increases in Landfill Tax.
