Award-winning Garston Station Community Garden

The Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has earned recognition at the recent West Midlands Trains Stakeholder Conference. Our work as we transform a once-derelict patch of land behind Garston Station into a thriving wildlife-friendly community garden has won us this year’s London Northwestern Railway Community Hero Award.

This ambitious project began with ground clearance in spring 2024, followed by extensive community engagement, including inviting local residents, schools, and groups to help shape the garden’s design. Young people contributed ideas through creative activity sheets and workshops, while volunteers from the Department for Transport and local organisations rolled up their sleeves to lay pathways, plant wildflowers, and make bug-friendly spaces.

Seasonal planting is beginning to bring vibrant life to the space, with spring-flowering bulbs and drought-tolerant wildflower seedlings starting to create a haven for pollinators and a colourful welcome for human visitors. The Passport to Leisure group, supporting adults with learning disabilities, is also playing a key role in the garden’s development, reinforcing the CRP’s commitment to inclusivity and wellbeing.

The Garston Community Garden is more than a beautification project—it’s a symbol of collaboration, biodiversity, and community pride. As the garden continues to grow, so does its impact, offering a peaceful green space for reflection, learning, and connection right on the Abbey Line.