Hertford East station is focus for new Mudlarks community project

Hertford East rail station is set to benefit from some extra TLC thanks to local charity, Mudlarks.

Working in partnership with the New River Line Community Rail Partnership, which includes train operator, Greater Anglia, the Mudlarks charity has officially ‘adopted’ the station.

This will see them carry out projects to further their aims of helping adults with learning difficulties to learn new skills and find routes into sustainable employment through community gardening projects.

They have already installed six large planters at the station which will be filled with attractive floral displays to provide a warm welcome to people who use the station and visitors to the town.

Katie Goldthorpe. Officer for the New River Line Community Rail Partnership, said, "Mudlarks is a fantastic charity whose aims fit perfectly with our Community Rail Partnership and Station Adoption objectives of promoting social inclusion and building links between the railway and communities it serves. We are very much looking forward to developing our relationship further and hearing their ideas for future projects."

Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, "I’m delighted to welcome the Mudlarks team to Hertford East station. They’ve made a real difference already which I’m sure passengers will appreciate as they pass through the station."

Vic Hobson, Managing Director of Mudlarks, said, "We are so pleased to be adopting Hertford East station. The idea is to bring the river and meadow feel to the station and encourage people to go for walks along the river and meads when they arrive in Hertford.

"Our gardeners chose all the plants and have planted up the first of the winter perennials. As the weather warms next year, we will add colourful flowers to the displays and aim to bring some Mudlarks joy to the station for all its users."

Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption scheme sees people getting involved with their local rail station for the benefit of their communities, working with Greater Anglia to bring about improvements or caring for gardens and floral displays to benefit local wildlife as well as making the stations more welcoming.

Across Greater Anglia’s network many other station adopters are also making their rail stations more wildlife friendly – with the railway increasingly being recognised by ecologists as a ‘green corridor’ which provides a sanctuary for many different kinds of flora and fauna.

Many have planted gardens which provide habitats for local wildlife as well as making the stations more welcoming. In total over 5700 square metres of gardens are tended to – the equivalent of 29 tennis courts.