A MINI nature reserve is being created at Malvern Link railway station to boosts its wildlife-friendly credentials after being formally adopted by the community.
Lead by Malvern Community Forest in partnership with the town’s civic society, the London Midland Adopt a Station project aims to create sustainable and eco-friendly stations across the country.
The work by the new station adoption team will focus on two main spaces.
Areas leading to platform two will be transformed into a diverse woodland habitat and existing plants will be supplemented with saplings and indigenous tree species suitable for coppicing.
A pollinator bed with shrubs and early flowering plants will be planted to sustain bees and other pollinators through the winter as well as a fruit tree to reflect the town’s orchard history.
Three wildflower pots will be located along platform two and maintained as part of the pollinator reserve, being cut once a year to help self-seeding.
Throughout next year the adopters of the railway station will also plant a traditional hazel fence alongside the wildflower pots.
Ken Timms, chair of Malvern Community Forest and lead adopter, said: “This new partnership with London Midland will be hugely beneficial for Malvern Link station.
“The project will provide something new for passengers, the local community and of course wildlife, plus the potential for learning about different habitats.”
Following the presentation of a special adoption plaque by London Midland last Wednesday (May 3), the train operator’s head of regional services said it was inspiring to see how residents and Malvern Community Forest have joined forces to adopt their railway station.
He added: “We want communities to feel a sense of ownership and pride in their local station, which in essence is the shop-window for their local area.
“The support of the new adoption team is making it possible for Malvern Link station to become a destination in its own right, as well as a great resource for essential wildlife.”
For more information about Malvern Community Forest and the adoption project visit www.malverncommunityforest.org.uk.
