New biodiversity and community-focused features have been installed as part of the ongoing Worcestershire Parkway Eco Area Project, led by the Bee Friendly Trust in partnership with the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (CRP). 

Set within a unique floodplain landscape, Worcestershire Parkway Station already features pollinator-friendly planting and meadow areas installed by the Bee Friendly Trust. The wider ambition of the Eco Area Project is to build on this by creating a destination that connects rail travel with nature, wellbeing, education, and community use. 

The latest phase of the project has included the installation of four handcrafted wooden benches featuring etched wildlife artwork, etchings and drawings along the station footbridges, a new finger sign, and interpretation noticeboards providing information about the site, local biodiversity, and the wider project vision. 

A key part of the project has been the involvement of young people from across the county. Pupils from four Worcestershire schools – Norton Juxta Kempsey CE Primary School, Honeybourne Primary School, Himbleton CE Primary School, and St Barnabas CE First & Middle School – played an important role in shaping the station’s new look. 

The children created artwork that is now featured throughout the site, helping to ensure the station reflects the creativity, identity, and environmental awareness of the local community. 

The project has been made possible thanks to funding from Community Rail Network, alongside support from Great Western Railway, CrossCountry and Worcestershire County Council. 

Tom Painter, chair of Worcestershire CRP, said: “This project is about creating a stronger connection between the station, the local environment, and the community. We want Worcestershire Parkway to be a place people enjoy spending time in – whether that’s learning about biodiversity, taking part in community activities, or simply enjoying the green spaces around the station.” 

Colin Burcombe, community rail support officer at Community Rail Network, said: “Community Rail Network is proud to support the new Eco Area at Worcestershire Parkway Station. This is a great example of how community rail can deliver projects that transform areas close to stations into attractive nature spaces. This helps to encourage biodiversity and enable rail journeys to include original aspects not usually considered.

“Worcestershire CRP has done a great job in planning and delivering this project alongside the Bee Friendly Trust.” 

Emma Pritchard from Bee Friendly Trust, said: “Worcestershire Parkway is so much more than a station. It offers the opportunity to engage with a vital and diverse habitat, abundant in wildlife, including birds, bees, butterflies and 13 species of bat.

“Each phase of this project aims to work in harmony with the space, supporting existing biodiversity and showcasing the proven wellbeing benefits to be had from connecting with nature and the wider community.”

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