SCHOOL children are being encouraged to 'branch out' and get involved in a poster design competition to highlight the importance of trees to the environment.

The competition, launched by Cartridge World as part of a national environmental campaign, is called 'Why trees are important to the environment'. It will allow primary school children to get creative and design a poster to illustrate the importance of trees and how it is vital to keep planting them.

Cartridge World, who has a store at 57 Duke Street, St Helens, formed their groundbreaking 'Plant a tree not a cartridge' initiative in partnership with the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, manufactures and commerce (RSA). The company aims to plant 6,000 trees at 28 designated sites across the UK in the next 12 months.

To help achieve its target, Cartridge World has launched a loyalty card scheme. Customers will receive a stamp every time they refill existing printer cartridges and toners at Cartridge World and for every eight stamps a new tree will be planted.

There are three different age categories in the poster competition: 4-6 year olds, 7-10 year olds and 11-13 year olds. Entries will be judged by a panel including Cartridge World representatives and RSA fellows.

The lucky winner from each category will receive a state of the art digital camera and combined colour copier for their school, plus a full scale printed and framed copy of the winning poster to be displayed in their local Cartridge World store.

Two runners up in each category will each win a cool colour copier with printer and scanner for their school.

For an application form log on to the Cartridge World website www.cartridgeworld.org or contact Katy Conway at Ptarmigan Consultants on 0113 242 1155.

Closing date is Monday 11 April 2005.