29 Sep 2022
Volunteers from the Caerphilly U3A gardening group are celebrating after ‘Caerphilly in Bloom’ were presented with the Gold Award in the ‘City & Town Centre’ category at the recent 2022 Wales in Bloom awards.
Transport for Wales’ Green Routes Project, in partnership with Caerphilly U3A, supported Caerphilly town’s entry to Wales in Bloom 2022 award.
Supported by TfW’s Green Routes project and delivered by the Community Rail team and the Caerphilly Taxi Driver’ Association, the gardening group helped design and maintain new planters installed along the entrance to the town’s railway station, as part of a project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Together TfW and Caerphilly U3A have enhanced the paved area connecting the railway station to the town with a series of pollinator and sensory-enhancing plants. The all-new planters outside the station have helped revitalise the area and boost biodiversity, bringing nature closer to the community.
Dr. Louise Moon, sustainable development programme manager at Transport for Wales, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the town’s successful entry and it’s great recognition for the volunteers who have helped maintain the planters at the station.
“Working with our community groups and volunteers is the essence of the sustainable development of our network that we aim to achieve in all our work. Being able to communicate and work together on projects, big and small, creates better opportunities to make enhancements that have long-lasting effects for our neighbours, the local wildlife and Wales.
Being able to renew the area at Caerphilly railway station in collaboration with Caerphilly U3A is an example of what we can achieve to
A spokesperson for Caerphilly U3A, said: “The plants and planting scheme were chosen by the group to provide sustainable all-year-round form, colour and sensory perception with small shrubs, perennials and early flowering plants underplanted with bulbs and hardy herbs. Plant choice was quite a challenge given the approaching winter and further plants were added to bring late spring and summer colours with scented plants to attract pollinators.
“We designed the area to create a pleasing, warm and colourful environment for all visitors and residents using the public transport services’ main gateway to Caerphilly town and its magnificent castle.
“For the volunteers, being able to create and support a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere to all who visit our town, participation in the project is proving to be a pleasurable and rewarding experience.”
Transport for Wales was awarded £100,000 from the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature scheme which is run by National Lottery Heritage Fund to enhance local biodiversity at and near its railway stations.
As part of the Green Routes project, we’re introducing green features at 25 of our stations and in five community areas. Enhancements will include planters and wildlife boxes to boost local biodiversity across the network.
You can read more about our Green Routes project, and other projects in our communities on our website at https://tfw.wales/about-us/sustainable-development/projects
