Forget Me Not Memory Café members brighten Billericay station

Billericay rail station is looking blooming lovely thanks to some TLC from members and volunteers of the Forget Me Not Memory Café.

The café, which supports adults with early stage dementia and their carers, saw the station as an ideal place for an enjoyable gardening project for its members.

As a result, cafè volunteers, Iris Perez and Maureen Jackson-Webb, who both live in Billericay, worked with the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and Greater Anglia to plant Forget Me Nots, Daffodils and perennials in the flower tubs and planters along the platform.

The project was also supported by local garden centre, A.E Harnett & Sons Nursery in Stock, who donated all the plants.

The filled planters will welcome visitors to Billericay whilst offering an inviting feature for those waiting on the platforms to enjoy.

Jayne Sumner of the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership said, "It’s such a pleasure working with Tracy, who runs the club, and the members and volunteers, who are so enthusiastic and have made such a positive difference to the station that is appreciated by the whole community."

Tracy Godden, CEO of the Forget Me Not Memory Café, said, "Iris and Maureen were excited to take part in this community project, planting flowers and then the after care of the containers with staff at the station.

"It’s important to us that our members remain connected and engaged within the local community and projects such as this has a positive impact on their mental wellbeing as well as raising awareness of dementia."

Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, "We’re really grateful to the Forget Me Not Café and the Community Rail Partnership for facilitating this fantastic community project which we are pleased to be a part of."

"The new floral displays will provide a cheerful and attractive welcome to residents and visitors alike."

The Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership works with Greater Anglia, Essex County Council and other local organisations to help keep rural rail lines thriving for the benefit of local communities.