South Western Railway celebrates green-fingered volunteers with new ‘Celebration Stations’ category

South Western Railway (SWR) has partnered with South & South East in Bloom to honour the dedicated volunteers who maintain biodiverse and vibrant station gardens across the region. As part of this partnership, SWR is sponsoring the 2025 South & South East in Bloom competition and has introduced a new category called Celebration Stations.

The Celebration Stations category will be open to railway stations across southern England, many of which are maintained by community groups and volunteers. Station adoption is a growing trend within the community rail movement, where volunteers actively enhance station spaces to better reflect and serve their local communities.

Currently, over 100 SWR stations have been adopted by nearly 500 volunteers, with projects ranging from colourful murals to meticulously maintained planters and flowerbeds.

One notable example is the Friends of Raynes Park Station in South West London, where volunteers used a grant from SWR’s Customer and Communities Improvement Fund to enhance the station’s wildlife. Their efforts included landscaping a nearby embankment, creating a wildflower garden, and planting 350 new bulbs to improve biodiversity.

To encourage entries into the new category, SWR will sponsor nominations from volunteers across its network as part of its Railway 200 celebrations, which commemorate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway in 1825. Volunteers from the Southern and Southeastern rail networks are also invited to submit nominations. The deadline for entries is March 31, 2025, with judging scheduled between June and August 2025.

Peter Holman, Chair of South & South East in Bloom, said: "South & South East in Bloom is thrilled to partner with South Western Railway to develop the Stations in Bloom initiative. This partnership will highlight the dedication and creativity of volunteers who are transforming stations into thriving green spaces. We look forward to celebrating these fantastic efforts and encouraging even more communities to get involved."

Paula Aldridge, SWR’s Community Rail Manager, commented: "South & South East in Bloom offers a wonderful opportunity to recognise those making a positive impact in their communities. It’s fantastic to have a dedicated category for station gardens, especially during our Railway 200 celebrations. We can’t wait to see the incredible work taking place across the SWR network."

Supporting station adopters is one of several ways SWR is improving biodiversity across its network. Since 2023, the rail operator has invested over £250,000 in biodiversity initiatives. These efforts have included detailed ecological surveys at 33 locations, shaping long-term Biodiversity Action Plans to enhance local ecosystems over the next 30 years.

SWR has also introduced biodiversity gardens at several depots. These spaces feature ponds, vegetable patches, and other sustainable elements that improve the environment for both local wildlife and SWR colleagues.

Lottie Leigh-Browne, SWR’s Sustainability Lead, said how important these initiatives are: "As the first UK train operator to join the Nature Positive Business Pledge, we are committed to halting and reversing our impact on nature. Station gardens and green spaces are vital in this mission, contributing to carbon reduction while improving wellbeing for our customers and staff."

Research suggests that habitats around rail infrastructure could absorb more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next 30 years, demonstrating the environmental value of these projects.

For more information on the Celebration Stations category or to submit a nomination, visit www.southeastinbloom.org.uk.