ADOPTERS of Malvern Link Railway Station have been given a helping hand to make the train stop ready for its ambitious woodland planting project.
The station was adopted in March by Malvern Community Forest in partnership with the town’s civic society.
And the group, who have joined London Midland’s Adopt a Station scheme, have been clearing the extensive green areas at the station over recent months in readiness for the new planting.
Their project will serve to create a mini nature reserve at the station with woodland, hedgerow, pollinator and fruit tree areas to help sustain a variety of wildlife including bumble bees and birds.
Platform Two is the focus of the project which adopters have now cleared and sown with wildflower deeds.
The extensive area adjacent to the platform’s access path has also been cleared.
During the summer London Midland and Network Rail colleagues from the West Midlands turned up to back the adopters at two major community working sessions.
The latest working party was the final push to ensure the new garden was ready for the final tree planting.
This will take place on December 1, with beech and yew trees, saplings and whips of indigenous tree species like ash, birch, hazel and oak, forming a sustainable woodland habitat for wildlife.
Ken Timms, lead adopter and chair of Malvern Community Forest, said: “It has been really exciting to see this project start to come to life; the hard work is now paying off.
“Thanks to the help of many colleagues from across the railway, we will soon be ready to get the trees in, some of which have been kindly donated by the local community, including Three Counties Traditional Orchard Project.
“Our objective is to provide something new for passengers, the community and of course wildlife, plus a resource with lots of potential for learning about the different habitats.”
Faye Lambert, head of community rail at London Midland, added: “The adopters have worked tremendously hard and should be proud of what they have achieved.
“We have had great support from Network Rail and our own colleagues at London Midland, who have turned out in numbers to lend a helping hand.
“It is a great example of what can be achieved through working in partnership.”
For more information about Malvern Community Forest and the adoption project as well as how to get involved as an adopter, visit www.malverncommunityforest.org.uk.
Further details about London Midland’s Adopt a Station can be found at www.londonmidland.com/adoptastation.
