Volunteers at Queenborough Station have been gifted new gardening tools thanks to support from Kent County Council.

On Friday 9 February, Kent Community Rail Partnership (CRP) visited Queenborough Station to hand over the new tools – including trowels, forks, brushes, brooms, secateurs and tidy bags – kindly funded by Councillors Mike Whiting and Andy Booth through Kent County Council’s Combined Member Grants Scheme.

The station adoption group are part of Queenborough and Rushenden in Bloom, who work to enhance the town all year round.  

Linda Brinklow, volunteer chair of Kent CRP’s Swale Rail Line, said: “The Queenborough in Bloom group were already active around the town, so we were excited when they signed up to become station adopters last spring. With a project already underway to celebrate the former Sheppey Light Railway at the station, we sought support from Councillor Mike Whiting and Councillor Andy Booth for both our new history boards and the work of our station adopters.

“We were absolutely delighted when they both said yes to our proposals, and we wish to thank them for their help.”

Councillor Paula Telford, chair of Queenborough and Rushenden in Bloom, said: “These tools will make a real difference to our volunteers. Previously, the ‘In Bloom’ group had no tools of its own and relied on members bringing their own to use in the community.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Councillor Mike Whiting and Councillor Andy Booth for supporting our adoption of Queenborough Station and Gary Outram from Kent CRP for organising the funding for the tools.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Kent CRP via their website.