Strawberry Field shortlisted as finalists at The Guide Heroes Award

We’re delighted to announce that Strawberry Field is a finalist in The Guide Liverpool Heroes Awards in the Sustainability Category! 

The Guide Liverpool Heroes awards shine a spotlight on individuals, businesses, charities and organisations who do Liverpool proud. Strawberry Field has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Sustainability category because of its commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability, embedding these principles at the heart of everything it does. 

Strawberry Field is a visitor attraction and training centre in the place that inspired John Lennon to write ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. Strawberry Field is deeply committed to environmental, social, and economic sustainability, embedding these principles at the heart of everything it does.

From its very foundations, the Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field centre was designed with sustainability in mind. The building takes full advantage of natural resources, with cross-ventilation, floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise daylight, sustainable urban drainage systems, and rooftop solar panels - cutting carbon emissions by the equivalent of driving twice around the world in a diesel car. The site’s historic landscape has been preserved and enriched to encourage biodiversity, with bug hotels, bat and bird boxes, container ponds, and enhanced planting that provides habitats for wildlife. 

Accessibility and inclusion are central to Strawberry Field’s mission. The site has been designed to be fully accessible, with step-free access, wide pathways, accessible toilets and quiet spaces for reflection. The visitor experience includes multi-sensory features and resources tailored for people with visual or hearing impairments, ensuring that everyone can enjoy and connect with the story of Strawberry Field. Programmes are delivered inclusively too, with staff trained in accessibility awareness and volunteers on hand to support visitors of all needs.

Visitors are also encouraged to “go green.” Guides on sustainable visiting, along with the self-guided Woolton Walking Tour and Garden Explorer maps, help inspire environmentally friendly choices. Strawberry Field’s efforts have already been recognised with a ‘Silver’ Green Tourism Award in 2024, and the team is actively working towards Gold, with future plans including the creation of a sensory garden and wildflower meadow in collaboration with University of Liverpool.

Sustainability also extends to Strawberry Field’s café. The Imagine More café works closely with local suppliers (such as Cheshire Coffee, Desserts by Dre and Cakes by Sophie) reducing transport emissions while supporting independent businesses in the region. Herbs and vegetables are also grown on-site for use in the kitchen, reinforcing the commitment to fresh, low-carbon food. 

Beyond its environmental achievements, Strawberry Field champions social and economic sustainability through its Steps to Work programme. This life-changing initiative supports young adults with learning difficulties and barriers to employment, equipping them with skills and confidence to access meaningful careers. Many graduates are now employed at Strawberry Field itself (80% of the café’s kitchen staff have progressed through the programme) creating a powerful cycle of opportunity, inclusion, and community impact.

Strawberry Field is also a hub of connection and wellbeing. Regular community events such as Love to Move (a chair-based exercise class for people with dementia), a weekly Community Breakfast to tackle loneliness, and music sessions like Ukulele Group bring people together, strengthening the social fabric of the area.

Importantly, every penny spent at Strawberry Field supports the centre’s social mission, ensuring that the organisation can continue to nurture both people and the planet for years to come.

Strawberry Field is more than a visitor destination, it is a living, breathing example of how environmental responsibility, social inclusion, and economic sustainability can work hand in hand to create lasting positive change.

You can vote for Strawberry Field to win here. Voting ends at midnight on Tuesday 30th September.