Published on: Tuesday, 27 April 2021
Last updated: Tuesday, 27 April 2021
Volunteers have transformed Marks Tey rail station with the creation of a new garden area planted with flowers.
Maureen and Terry Callen, who have adopted the Essex station, spent the winter months clearing the embankment, planting a range of perennials and installing a spiral path through the new garden.
The work has been supported by train operator, Greater Anglia, and the Essex and South Suffolk Community Partnership.
Jayne Sumner, Rail Engagement Officer for the Partnership commented, "It is really amazing to see what Terry and Maureen have achieved. When viewed from the bridge walking over to platform 3, the new garden looks really stunning and I’m sure will delight the community and station users as it develops."
Maureen and Terry work alongside fellow station adopters Brenda and Mick Hall and Corinne Sermon who have also been working to keep the gardens at the front of the station looking neat and colourful.
Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said: "We are very grateful to the adopter team at Marks Tey for their efforts to improve the station. As people return for work and leisure they will really notice the positive difference they have made."
Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption scheme enables individuals or groups to adopt their local railway station and contribute to its use and welfare for the benefit of their community.
Greater Anglia provides funding to help station adopters cover the costs of small projects, such as the creation of station gardens and or to purchase materials to help improve the station environment.
Over the years, station adopters have played an active role in keeping stations looking good through inventive gardening projects, wildlife-friendly initiatives, creative community art projects, taking part in station ‘health checks’, being the eyes and ears of their station and encouraging links between the station and local communities.