Published on: Monday, 20 January 2014
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Abellio Greater Anglia’s Ipswich station is looking blooming lovely thanks to a partnership between local charity ActivLives, Ipswich Borough Council and the local train operator.
ActivLives and the Ipswich Borough Council have together sponsored and created new hanging baskets which have just been installed at this busy, Suffolk station.
Not only will the baskets brighten up the journeys of everyone who passes through the station, but the project has also provided local young people with valuable horticultural experience too. The six hanging baskets were planted by young people with complex barriers to learning, students of Lapwing Suffolk, who attend ActivLives garden projects (known as ActivGardens) to gain skills for work. ActivLives’ volunteers also took part.
The team grew the plants for the baskets at Chantry Walled Garden in Chantry Park, Ipswich. They grew the winter flowering pansies and other seasonal bedding from plug plants and have tended the finished baskets in the glasshouses to bring them into peak condition for Ipswich Rail Station. The project was sponsored by Ipswich Borough Council.
ActivGardens Lead Horticulturist and Trainer Ric Staines said:
“Our students have gained valuable skills relevant to working in the horticultural industry.”
“We were happy to work in partnership with Abellio Greater Anglia and the Borough Council’s Tourist Information Centre, to bring this project to fruition.
“We hope visitors to Ipswich Station will appreciate the efforts we’ve made to brighten up their journeys!”
Alan Trett Abellio Greater Anglia’s Assistant Customer Services Manager said:
“We’re really grateful to ActivLives and Ipswich Borough Council for providing the new floral arrangements now on display at the station, which enhance the environment for the benefit of everyone who passes through this key gateway to the town.”