Looking at the jungle of brambles outside our new front door, it all began with someone saying “I feel sure we can do better with the garden area”. How right they were!
A call out on Facebook brought forth a host of interested locals and, combined with existing Green Hub volunteers, we soon had a team of 20 folk getting stuck in. Over three months, the original Station Master’s garden gradually emerged from nowhere, revealing multiple beds and interesting paving features – and even a view of the platform!
Between August 2025 and June 2026, volunteers worked in the garden in all weathers. Over that time there have been 29 volunteering sessions, involving a community of 20 or more volunteers. The total amount of garden volunteering time amounts to 300+ hours, not including DIY sessions painting the shed and creating our ‘pallet trees’.
A big shout out to Stacey, our Garden Manager for pulling it all together, and to the droves of volunteers who turned up to help.
If you’d like to know all the nitty gritty, click one of the links below…
Look at it now…
How it looked before …
All the help we had …
Phases of work
- Major clearance of the site, across 30+ volunteering sessions.
- The sessions generated considerable volumes of garden waste, and trips to the local recycling centre.
- Removal of roots using primarily hand tools, along with the removal of a massive network of bramble roots.
- Comprehensive digging over beds, in preparation of the planting phases.
- Addition of compost.
- Design and plan for the garden & planters.
- Sourcing planters & reservoirs.
- Purchasing plants – multiple phases
- Planting – from August ‘25 to June ‘26.
- Watering – ongoing process as needed.
- Repairs to paved areas.
- Preparation of shed base.
- Shed build and fitting out.
Environmental factors
- No chemicals were used on site
- All the compost used was peat free.
- All weeds were dug or pulled out by hand.
- Watering is done only when needed to establish new plants. Unfortunately, due to Network Rail restrictions, we can’t use water butts on site.
- Large planters at the front of the station have reservoirs to reduce the need for regular watering.
- All garden waste collected when the site was cleared, has been composted at a local site.
- Now installed is a compost bin, so that all garden waste can be composted on site.
- Two bug hotels have been installed and also an insect drinking station.
- A bird box has been added to the garden space.
Plant choice
- All plants have either been donated or purchased at a local trade nursery.
- Perennials have been chosen so that they come back year after year, plus we will have the ability to divide/ split plants to fill any gaps.
- Green Hub has other gardens so we can swap plants between sites.
- Plants were chosen to support pollinating insects, as well as for their different textures and colours to keep interest throughout the year.
- Donated spring bulbs were added to various locations at the station.
- Large planters have perennials in place, such as Hydrangea Paniculata and are supported by seasonal bedding and spring bulbs.
Planting …
- Persicaria Amplexicaulis: Pink Elephant
- James Galway Climber Rose
- Hydrangea Paniculata Bobopersicaria
- Vinca Minor: Ms Jekyll White
- Clematis Cirrhosa ‘Jingle Bells’
- Pittosporum Glo Ball
- Viburnum Tinus: Eve Price
- Anemone Hyb: Whirlwind
- Rosemarinus: Miss Jessopp’s Upright
- Rosemarinus: Prostratus
- Aster Frikartii: Monch
- Eupatorium Mac: Atropurpureum
- Gaura Lindh: Whirling Butterflies
- Geranium Rozanne
- Pennisetum al: Redhead
- Sedum: Herbstfreude
- Verbena Bonariensis
- Stipa Tenuissma
- Dianthus Carthusianorum
- Erigeron Karvinskianus
- Geum Hybrida: Totally Tangerine
- Achillea: Moonshine
- Nepeta: Six Hills Giant
- Salvia Nemorosa Caradonna
- Santolina Chemaecyparissus
- Vanessa Bell Shrub Rose
Some of the comments from our local community …
“Well done everyone, it’s coming on a treat!!!”
“Utterly remarkable, I love the herring-bone bricklaying and all the other developments. It’s absolutely fantastic. I hope all the volunteers feel really pleased by what they’ve done and that both passers-by and train passengers notice a transformation. Well done everyone.”
“Your hard work has paid off. Great work!”
“I’m a secret admirer! it looks great, well done”
“That looks so lovely, you should all feel so very proud!”
“You’re doing a great Job!”
“That looks wonderful.”
“Wonderful work!”
“I’ve lived near the station for 60yrs, I went to have a look at what you’ve achieved and was amazed at the transformation – well done.”
Comments
Cont …
“Wonderful work!”
“I can remember when the whole platform area was planted on the banks with seasonal flowers, they were done when full time guards were always on duty. They planted and looked after them. That was back in the 60s. It would be nice to see the small garden next to the house planted with flowers.”
“I’ve lived in The local area since 1961. Good luck with your project.”
“Wow amazing job!”
“Looks great well done.”
“Well done all!!”
“I spent many hours when my children were small sitting on the station platform waiting for trains and, if they were lucky, the driver gave them a toot. The embankment was always maintained with flowers done by station staff. Now young Mums have a nice seating to relax on. Well done.”
