The Secret Station Garden

We were visiting friends in Manchester this weekend, and travelled up by train from our nearest railway station,Kidsgrove.  Jon can take much credit for the improved train service we have these days, having campaigned with local people, councillors and MPs to get us an hourly service to Manchester, two trains an hour to Stoke and a through service to London Euston.

An unexpected horticultural spin-off from the improved service and greater use of the station has been a tremendous voluntary effort to restore the garden at the station.  This is found on the "island" platform which sits in the "V" between the lines to and from Crewe, and those to and from Manchester, and was set out during the 1980s recession as a Manpower Services Commission "Community Programme", around the same time as the National Garden Festival was happening in Stoke-on-Trent.  But over time, without regular revenue funding or staff to maintain it, the garden plants disappeared under swathes of ivy and brambles. 

Blast from the past - dedication plaque for the original station garden project

When we first moved up to this area, there was virtually no trace of a cultivated garden - just a few ornamental shrubs poking out from the weeds.  But all that was to change, and like the Secret Garden in the story, the original has gradually been restored to its former glory.

About three years ago, Allan Dale came forward to help out at Kidsgrove station in response to a recruitment drive by the North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership for volunteers to assist with improving their local station.  Allan recruited a team to help him and began to rediscover and clear the old gardens, successfully rallying support from Kidsgrove Rotary Club and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and encouraging donations of plants, bulbs and funds to maintain the transformation.  In January 2010, Allan was given one of the first Citizen's awards by Kidsgrove Town Council - Jon Honeysett also got one for his work in restoring the train service!

Under the ivy for decades, uncovered in 2010

The garden project has also won numerous awards - including a Britain in Bloom Community Award from Newcastle-under-Lyme Council, Best Small Station from East Midlands Trains and runners up in the 2011 National Community Rail Partnership awards for Best Station Adoption Group.  Their commendation noted:

"the hard work and enthusiasm of this immensely proactive group has helped to transform Kidsgrove station from a run down, unwelcoming facility to a very attractive place.  Whatever the task, from gardening to raising funds, they always deliver and are real ‘Friends’ to the station. In bringing to life the long forgotten station gardens, they’ve won the support of numerous agencies such as Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Rotary International."

Sadly, Alllan wasn't able to see this last award for all his team's hard work, as he passed away suddenly last summer.  But a very dedictaed team have continued to maintain and expand the gardens at Kidsgrove station, and dedicated a quiet rose garden to their much missed old friend.

Allan's work is continued by the remaining volunteers, including local councillors Elsie Bates and Mary Maxfield, and this year they have planted troughs and wall baskets for winter colour.  The gardens - like most - aren't at their best at this time of year, but there are still some nice features even in the depths of winter.



In summer, there are now lots of lush perennials cascading down towards the platforms.

I gave the team some spare plants last year, but hope to be more use to them after I've finished my RHS level 2 this February, and hope to occasionally help the ladies with their work - especially pruning anything a bit high up! 

So congratulations to them all for a fabulous garden.