Published on: Wednesday, 14 June 2017
Last updated: Monday, 18 December 2017
Whitlesford Parkway station looks blooming lovely thanks to a partnership between a local volunteers and train operator Greater Anglia.
The station, on the Cambridge to London line, has received a makeover thanks to a team of volunteers from the local community – Margot, Hilary, Peter, Sam, Libby and Jim - who came together after answering an ad in the station window.
Their different skills have led to the creation of a stunning station garden which won 'Most Improved' was also highly commended in 'Best group' category at Greater Anglia’s annual station adopter awards last year.
Summer blooms were donated by local garden centre, Scotsdales Garden Centre, and hundreds of plants and bulbs, including tulips, narcissi, sunflowers, cornflower and lavatera, have been planted along the platforms and also in new flower tubs.
Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, Paul Stannard, said, “We are very grateful for the commitment and enthusiasm of the group at Whittlesford Parkway station. They have worked very hard and the station looks lovely as a result.”
The ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme started in 2003 and enables individuals or groups to adopt their local railway station and contribute to its presentation and welfare for the benefit of the local community.
The voluntary scheme was originally created to improve lines of communication between the train operator and station users however, over the years it has grown to become much more, with station adopters now playing an active role in keeping stations looking good through inventive gardening projects, creative community art projects, taking part in station ‘health checks’ or being the eyes and ears of their station.
Over the years, station adopters have also played a key role in raising money for new initiatives, such as improved waiting facilities or planting beautiful station gardens.
