Wildlife inspired projects at Stafford station create a buzz within local community

• New station projects unveiled in support of Stafford’s ‘Bee Friendly Town’ status
  
• Wildlife inspired artwork and pollinator themed garden engage local community groups
  
• Avanti West Coast celebrates initiative supported through its Community Rail Project fund

A collection of projects inspired by local wildlife have been unveiled at Stafford station in support of the area’s ‘Bee Friendly Town’ status.  

The joint initiative between Avanti West Coast colleagues, local artists and North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership has created a vibrant gateway into the town, with wildlife inspired murals displayed around the station and a new shared garden for colleagues designed to encourage pollination.

Installed on platforms and running along the walls of the customer overbridge, the colourful artworks have taken inspiration from pollinating wildlife. Staffordshire artist, Tom Edwards, worked with groups of young people to explore the pollinator theme, helping them bring the designs to life before painting the final artworks.

In addition to the murals, a new 3D installation on the overbridge has been created using recycled tin cans, which were collected and modelled into flowers, blossom and pollinating insects. The project was led by Protean Art who worked with community groups to produce the 3D leaves and flowers featured in the artwork which surround the word ‘Stafford’. The artwork was the idea of Customer Service Team Leader at the station, Fiona Main, who envisioned the installation as a “creative and alternative way to welcome customers into the town”.

The project reinforces Stafford’s Bee Friendly Town status – awarded to the town in May 2024 – with the station also now included in the area’s Bee Friendly Trail located in Victoria Park, which sits opposite the rail hub. Avanti West Coast, who manage the station, supported the project through its Community Rail Project (CRP) funding – a scheme that helps CRPs deliver initiatives that engage communities with their railway.

Alongside local groups that participated in the projects, the wider rail industry teamed up with Avanti colleagues to help with the build of a shared garden, designed to encourage pollination by bees, butterflies and other insects.

Employees from Network Rail and train supplier, Alstom, volunteered their time to assist with turning repurposed pallets into planters to house flowers and plants that will attract insects and encourage pollination, creating a colourful and sustainable display that supports local wildlife.

Following its installation, the garden has been adopted by the local Scout group, which is led by Justin Williams, a Customer Service Assistant also based at Stafford.

The garden will provide an educational opportunity for the children through the upkeep of the planters and sessions led by external groups such as the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. It will also build on other environmental insights the group has brought to the station, which includes the creation of the ‘bug hotels’ – small boxes that have been repurposed as homes for insects.

Avanti West Coast colleagues, Justin and Fiona, are Community Champions at the station – a voluntary position that the operator created for its colleagues alongside their day-to-day role. It offers employees the opportunity to engage with the community surrounding their place of work, having a positive effect on personal wellbeing as well as enhancing social value in their local area.

Speaking about the project, artist, Tom Edwards, said: “It’s been great to work on this with North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership and Avanti West Coast. The designs developed through a series of workshops with local youth groups, taking Stafford’s Bee Friendly Status as the starting point and exploring the bees, butterflies, moths and other insects that are so important to our local environment.

“It’s really rewarding to see the finished artwork installed at Stafford Station. Thousands of people pass through the station every day, so having my work become part of that environment, and hopefully bringing a bit of colour and nature to people’s journeys, is a great feeling. I particularly enjoyed working with the different community groups and bringing some of their ideas into a permanent piece of public artwork.”

Justin Williams, Customer Service Assistant at Avanti West Coast, said: “Having the Scout Group working on the wildlife friendly garden and re-wilding area has been very rewarding.

“Their volunteering links in with ‘Platforms for Change’ which is a joint initiative between Scout groups and the Community Rail Network. Over the last three years as part of this programme, our young people have put in a lot of effort doing a variety of jobs including litter picking at the station, researching suitable plant species for the wildlife garden and constructing bug hotels.

“In addition to these activities, the opportunity for our Scouts to learn about railway safety has also been a big part of the project. I am so proud of what they have achieved.”

Emma McIntosh, Community Rail Officer at North Staffordshire CRP, said: “This project provided a brilliant opportunity to celebrate, promote and support pollinators. Through creative engagement with the local Stafford community, together we have delivered engaging artwork that creates a colourful display for all that use the station.”

To donate unwanted garden items – such as large plant pots, stones and seeds – so that they can be repurposed within the rewilding space, please speak with a member of the Avanti West Coast team at Stafford station.

ENDS