Although the buildings at Ridgmont Station had undergone extensive restoration in recent years, the garden area had become neglected. To address this challenge and support the health and wellbeing of the community along the Marston Vale Line, ‘Rails to Roots’ was set up in May 2023.

Marston Vale CRP worked closely with Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC), who provided staff time for fundraising, marketing, and setting up and running the gardening group sessions. Over time, the nature-based activities of the project evolved to incorporate ‘try the train’ trips aimed at boosting safe, independent and confident rail travel, and other volunteering opportunities within the Heritage Centre and Tea Rooms.

Support for the project extended beyond the community. Volunteer teams from Network Rail, London Northwestern Railway and East West Rail were recruited to help construct raised beds for fruit and vegetables, and the Friends of Ridgmont Station created a memorial rose garden and planted a wildlife friendly hedge in the Heritage Centre car park.

Close links with BRCC’s social prescribing team proved integral. Through this service, ‘Rails to Roots’ has been signposted across the area as a social, rail-accessible project, and the benefits generated have been significant. Not only has it greatly enhanced the outdoor spaces of the site, making it more vibrant and welcoming, it has supported those involved to learn new skills, be more socially and physically active, and feel more connected to their community and their local station.

With the National Trust Cotehele (NTC) located just 1.5 miles from Calstock Station, Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (DCRP) devised the Tamar Valley Blossom Festival as a way to engage communities around the Tamar Valley Line with rail travel and the natural environment.

The festival ran from 26 April until 10 May 2025, with 757 people attending 18 events. Activity began as early as February, when pupils from Calstock Primary School worked with artist Cathy Harrison to create artwork using recycled junk mail and magazines, producing a vibrant mural now permanently displayed at Plymouth Station.

To ensure accessibility, inclusivity, and no financial barriers to people attending the festival, a series of events were delivered in Plymouth’s urban and rural communities. These included bespoke storytelling and poetry workshops for families, yoga sessions and guided walks from stations. Charity Odils supported a ‘try the train’ trip, where a group of refugees participated in an art workshop whilst sharing memories of home over food, provided free of charge by Tamar Grow Local. NTC waived their entry fee if visitors arrived by train, and DCRP assisted in dispensing 77 books of discounted tickets for journeys along the line to low-income families.

Passenger data for this period showed a 14% increase in journeys on the line compared to the previous year, and DCRP produced videos for social media which reached just under 120,000 people. The project has resulted in future collaboration between DCRP and NTC, including their latest ‘Tea and Train’ initiative.

The Farnborough Street Residents Association (FSRA) has worked with hundreds of people from the local community, businesses and voluntary sector to create inspiring spaces at their station.

Since 2021, FSRA have worked on Reg’s Garden, a fully wheelchair accessible area that features native planting, seating, a community food garden, composting areas and even bee hives. The volunteers have installed litter bins, a community noticeboard and a defibrillator, and have worked with local students to create safety messaging for display on the platform – encouraging more young people to be involved at the station and feel empowered to travel sustainably.

The group were equally keen to renovate the adjoining station master’s house into a community hub. Volunteers were recruited from local companies to assist with the redevelopment, and Duke of Edinburgh students from nearby schools were also involved.

The house was transformed into a Warm Café, where everyone is welcome for tea, cake and company. Around 15 people attend regularly, and many have gone on to join the FSRA volunteers. Other local groups also use the station house, including U3a, Scouts, history and walking groups, and even the local samba band. Led walks from the station enable people to explore the area and meet new people, and information about a wide range of visitor destinations and support services are on display.

Through strong engagement and collaboration, the garden and station house at Farnborough North have become an integral part of the wider community, providing a lively shared space for all ages.