Stations’ Wildlife Boost

RAYLEIGH and Hockley stations have benefitted from a wildlife and biodiversity boost, thanks to local volunteers.

Both stations, on the Greater Anglia line, have been given the “wildlife friendly station” status for the work U3A members have carried out to ensure “rich wildlife habitats”.

Rayleigh’s station underwent a grand redevelopment in 2022, providing the opportunity to transform it into a blooming space abundant with numerous different plants and flowers, attracting pollinators like butterflies.

The renovation turned the station into a blooming space abundant with numerous different plants and flowers, attracting pollinators like butterflies.

A certificate was presented to recognise the “station adopters” efforts through the Greater Anglia Wildlife Friendly Stations Accreditation Scheme.

Created by Greater Anglia and working in partnership with the region’s Wildlife Trusts, the scheme highlights the outstanding efforts of the station adopters, which have included the introduction of plants to the stations, as well as the construction of an insect hotel.

James Hogg, development officer at the Wildlife Trust, said: “The alarming decline in the abundance of wildlife and the plight of species under threat means that just protecting the nature we have left is not enough; we need to put nature into recovery, and to do so at scale and with urgency.

“This project with Greater Anglia is a fantastic example of how people can transform nature-poor areas into new nature-rich places and change the way we think about land, seizing opportunities to help nature outside traditional nature reserves.”

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s customer and community engagement manager, added: “We are delighted to partner with the region’s wildlife trusts to formally recognise the valuable work of our station adopter volunteers in supporting wildlife and improving their local environment.”

Picture: Volunteers receive the accreditation. (Pic: Greater Anglia)

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