Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation (IFCF) has marked the conclusion of its nationwide grassroots environmental campaign, Backyard Nature, with a surprise award ceremony at All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield, Liverpool – the school where the movement first began.
The ceremony brought together a host of distinguished guests including Richard Walker, Executive Chairman of Iceland Foods and Chair of IFCF; Peter Oliver OBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside; and Rt Rev Tom Neylon, Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool to formally recognise the Eco Emeralds – the group of pupils whose ideas grew into a nationwide campaign engaging families across the UK.
Launched by IFCF in 2019, Backyard Nature was designed to help children – particularly those living in inner-city and deprived communities – reconnect with nature and take action to protect their own “patch”, whether a garden, playground or window box. IFCF invested £390,000 in funding to develop the campaign as a genuinely child-led, grassroots movement, working in partnership with community platform Semble (now ActionFunder).
Inspired by the Eco Emeralds, pupils aged between seven and eleven at All Saints Catholic Primary School, Backyard Nature grew from a single school campaign into a nationwide initiative. This received backing from 22 national charities, including WWF and The Wildlife Trusts, and royal recognition – with messages of support from HRH the Princess of Wales and a visit to All Saints Catholic Primary School by HRH the Prince of Wales.
Building on this success, the campaign inspired wider community action, benefiting thousands of children and community members across the UK. From 2020 to 2022, a consortium of 10 housing associations supported Backyard Nature in under-represented communities, while a Thames Water-funded programme helped grassroots groups connect young people with nature through a £23,000 micro-grant fund and a £25,000 JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) project.
Last week’s award ceremony celebrated the success of project and the extraordinary impact of the Eco Emeralds. Over the course of the campaign, Backyard Nature inspired more than 16,000 children to become Backyard Nature Guardians of their own patches, generated 750,000 hours of nature activity, and distributed 15 million wildflower seeds and 337,000 bug hotel kits to protect pollinators and insects. The event also marked a moment of transition, as the school, with support from IFCF, looks ahead to how future pupils will build on the Eco Emeralds’ achievements.
All Saints Catholic Primary School, named Green School of the Year by the Liverpool Echo in 2020, will continue to encourage pupil leadership and community engagement through the Better World Award. Donated by IFCF as a legacy of the campaign, this annual prize will recognise pupils who make a positive impact in their school and local community, helping to carry forward the Eco Emeralds’ legacy.
Teachers at the school reported that the campaign significantly strengthened pupil voice and confidence, inspiring children to take on wider community projects through the school’s Learning to Serve programme.
Richard Walker, chairman of Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation and Executive Chairman of Iceland Foods said: “Backyard Nature has shown what happens when children are given the tools and trust to lead. The Eco Emeralds started with a simple idea in their school classroom, and with support from IFCF – and our stores, colleagues, and community networks – their campaign grew to inspire thousands of children across the country to connect with nature on their own doorstep.
“This award ceremony is a chance to celebrate everything they’ve achieved and to pass the baton to the next generation of young environmental leaders, so their legacy will continue to grow.”
Jaime Dunn, head teacher of All Saints Primary School, said: “The Eco Emeralds have inspired every child at All Saints to see themselves as changemakers, and their energy hasn’t stopped at the school gates. Pupils have been planting wildflowers, building bug hotels, and supporting local residents, including older people and families in need. Backyard Nature has shown our students that their ideas can have a real impact on their community, and the pride, confidence, and curiosity it has sparked will stay with them for years to come.”
For more information on Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation, please visit: https://ifcf.org.uk/
