Train operator Greater Anglia is appealing for community volunteers to get involved with their local railway stations, to help drive improvements and make them more welcoming to passengers.

Vacancies for station adopters currently exist at four stations in Essex – Harlow Town, Kelvedon, Shenfield and Thorpe-le-Soken – as well as seven stations in Hertfordshire and Greater London: Tottenham Hale, Brimsdown, Lea Bridge, Enfield Lock, Meridian Water, Northumberland Park, and Cheshunt.

Greater Anglia hopes that individuals, community organisations or local councils who have an interest in improving their local station and bringing it into the heart of the community will come forward with their ideas.

Greater Anglia now has over 330 adopters at over 125 stations across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. Station adoption volunteers play an active role in keeping stations looking good through gardening projects that create an attractive welcome and support local wildlife and biodiversity, creative community art projects, taking part in station ‘health checks’ or being the eyes and ears of their station.

The train operator provides funding to help cover the costs of small projects, tools, and materials to help improve the station environment.

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said: “We would love to see every station on the network adopted as it makes such a positive difference when the community is actively involved in their local station.

“Station adoption creates mutually beneficial relationships and dialogue to help us understand what improvements are important to local people and promotes civic pride and wellbeing by bringing people together and enhancing public spaces.”

Anyone interested in adopting their station should contact Alan Neville at alan.neville@greateranglia.co.uk.