Railway stations embrace the blooms – with Raynes Park at the forefront

Railway stations under the wing of South Western Railway (SWR) are to take part in a special category in the South & South East Bloom gardening competition – with Raynes Park in line to be a strong contender.

SWR – which operates across the south of England – is sponsoring the 2025 edition of South & South East in Bloom and has introduced a special category, Celebration Stations, to celebrate the many green-fingered volunteers who create biodiverse stations.

South & South East in Bloom is one of 16 regions across the UK that make up the annual, nationwide gardening competition ‘Britain in Bloom’.

The competition inspires community groups in towns, cities and villages to make positive changes to their local environment through horticultural, environmental and community action.

The new category will be open to railway stations across the south and south east of England, many of which have been adopted by community groups and volunteers who lovingly tend to their stations’ gardens and green spaces.

Station adoption is part of the growing community rail movement, which sees local groups volunteer to take more active roles in their stations, helping them to better reflect and serve their communities.

More than 100 SWR stations have been proudly adopted by nearly 500 local volunteers. Their projects range from vibrant murals and artwork installations to beautifully maintained planters and flowerbeds, brining new life to these spaces.

At Raynes Park, the Friends of Raynes Park Station have used a grant from SWR’s customer and communities improvement fund to transform the station’s wildlife.

Volunteers have landscaped a nearby embankment, installed a wildflower garden, and just last week planted 350 new bulbs.

SWR has also introduced biodiversity gardens at depots in Clapham Junction and Wimbledon, where ponds and vegetable patches break up the concrete expanse.

To encourage entries into the special category, SWR will sponsor nominations from volunteers like these across its network as part of its Railway 200 celebrations – a year of activities to mark the beginning of the modern railway in 1825.

SWR is also encouraging those who work on gardens and green spaces at stations on its networks to send in their nominations.

The deadline for submitting entries to South & South East in Bloom is March 31 and judging will take place between June and August 2025.

Peter Holman, Chair of South & South East in Bloom, and London in Bloom, said: “South & South East in Bloom is thrilled to collaborate with SWR to develop the Stations in Bloom initiative.

“Together, we can shine a spotlight on the extraordinary dedication and creativity of the volunteers who are transforming our stations along the SWR routes into stunning green spaces.”

Paula Aldridge, South Western Railway’s community rail manager, said: “It’s wonderful to have a category just for the region’s stations, especially as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.

“I love seeing our stations transformed into vibrant, welcoming spaces and we’re really looking forward to seeing nominations across the SWR network and beyond.”

Pictured top: The sustainability team at Raynes Park station (Picture: SWR)