A new accessible Railway 200-themed community garden has officially opened at Harwich Town Station.
The £15,000 project to restore a redundant area next to the station building was funded by the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (ESSCRP), the Community Rail Development Fund and the Landguard Trust, as well as being supported by the local community, Greater Anglia and Railscape.
The garden is fully accessible to wheelchair users and features seating, planters filled with pollinator-friendly floral displays, and artwork from the community.
At the opening event on 27 September – the official Railway 200 anniversary – a ribbon was cut by Les Nicholls of NEST (North Essex Support Group), a local charity which supports families in poverty. Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Nigel Spencer, cut a Railway 200 birthday cake with his sword, before speeches and a performance of a sea shanty by the Harwich Shanty Crew, which had been specially written for the occasion.
Jane Stewart, Essex & South Suffolk CRP officer, said: “We were delighted to officially open the garden on the 200th birthday of the modern railway. We are very grateful for the support of Greater Anglia and Community Rail Network to enable the community garden idea to come to life.
“What was a disused patch of wasteland at the beginning of the year has now become a vibrant community space for the whole town to enjoy.”
Paul Webster, Community Rail Network’s support and development manager, said: “Railway stations provide a gateway into their community and make a long-lasting impression for visitors, so turning this overgrown space into a pleasant and accessible welcome for all is great news for the town.
“Designing this garden as an inclusive space that all members of the community can be proud of and can use for their benefit really shows how the CRP is connecting the community to their railway for the benefit of everyone, even more importantly in this special year of railway celebrations and is a project we are really pleased to be able to support.”
Jonathan Denby, Greater Anglia’s head of corporate affairs, said: “This great new public space will further enhance the positive role of the station in the town – and help to ensure it stays at the heart of the community, while also increasing awareness of the opportunities to catch a train for work, social and leisure purposes.
“It is another excellent example of the real benefits station adoption groups and community rail partnerships bring to our network. It also aligns with our strategy to increase biodiversity at our stations and make them really attractive gateways to their communities, as we play our full part in the region’s decarbonisation plans.”
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Essex & South Suffolk CRP via their website.