Even the pouring rain wasn’t enough to dampen the enthusiasm of the Thames Ditton In Bloom volunteer gardeners who gathered at Thames Ditton station on Sunday 16th October for the much anticipated Autumn/Winter planting of the wheelbarrows and planters.
The initiative began back in April, when the group was formed to brighten the Station for the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations and proved so successful that the team are now working on more ambitious gardening schemes for the Station going forward.
Says Tricia Bland, Thames Ditton Residents’ Association Councillor and Thames Ditton In Bloom organiser, “our local community has really embraced the idea of making Thames Ditton Station an even more attractive and welcoming place for both residents and visitors. Our local Thames Ditton Centre Men In Sheds group handmade the 13 wooden planters along the railings and ticket office and we’ve joined with our green fingered local WI gardeners to plant out the decorative wheelbarrows that line the station platforms.”
“The venture has been made possible by the fantastic support of Laura Richardson and Adam Cheek, officers at Elmbridge Borough Council, who have worked closely with us advising on planting schemes and providing much needed funding. In addition we have been wholeheartedly supported by the local team at South West Trains, led by managers Manoj Bhardwaj and Scott Cooper - from Al Habbooby in Café Noir who keeps us supplied with steaming hot lattes to Gary Vickers in the ticket office who helps with the watering. Not forgetting TD In Bloom volunteers Nicky Turner and Andrew Pratt who lead the watering team and make sure the displays look amazing in all weathers.”
On the day, the Thames Ditton In Bloom and WI team worked with the Officers from Elmbridge and SWT workers to clear the remains of the summer planting, replacing it with autumn/winter planting. Soon commuters and visitors will be cheered by a riot of red, yellow and blue polyanthus, white and pink bellis plus pansies and trailing ivy; with mini daffodils and tulips making a welcome appearance in the spring.
Says EBC’s Laura Richardson, Green Spaces Development Officer, “we are really enjoying working with the Thames Ditton In Bloom team which is part of our wider Elmbridge In Bloom scheme which supports community planting projects throughout the borough. It is fantastically rewarding to see what can be achieved by local communities who feel passionate about enhancing their environments and we are delighted to support the initiative in Thames Ditton”.
For more information on Thames Ditton In Bloom please contact Tricia W. Bland: tbland@elmbridge.gov.uk