Next spring should be blooming marvellous for a Greater Anglia station, thanks to volunteers, the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and Greater Anglia getting together to add some flower power.

They put four large planters on station platforms at Ingatestone. Funding was provided by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership

They will be planted and cared for by volunteers who have ‘adopted’ the station as part of Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption initiative – which sees local people across the network get involved with their stations, coming up with ideas and projects that benefit their communities.

Jayne Sumner, Essex and South Suffolk community rail engagement manager, said: “Ingatestone is a fantastic example of a station that is at the heart of its community and benefits from the dedication and TLC of a fantastic group of volunteers, as well as Greater Anglia staff who create a really welcoming feel.

“We are delighted to have been able to help them improve the station even further by funding these additional planters which I’m sure will delight passengers when they are in full bloom next year.”

Greater Anglia’s customer and community engagement manager, Alan Neville, said, “We are very grateful to the Community Rail Partnership for funding these planters and to the Station Adoption team at Ingatestone for their dedication to bringing attractive floral displays to the station that will benefit passengers and pollinators. They have already created stunning gardens alongside the platforms that are a boom for local wildlife.”