Frome biodiversity work

Frome station hit with biodiversity blast

Sunday the 5th of June will mark World Environment Day, with Frome station setting a new standard for incorporating volunteer work from Network Rail, Frome Station Friends, and The Bee Friendly Trust to enhance biodiversity.

These three parties have worked together to build sustainable habitats for urban wildlife by installing bee-friendly planters on the disused platform, matching a pair already installed at the station.

Frome’s passengers will enjoy a cleaner, brighter station environment after a new fencing panel has been erected on the unused platform and tidied up overgrown vegetation, making the area safe for Frome Station Friends to tend to two bee-friendly planters, purchased by Network Rail from The Bee Friendly Trust.

The specially selected plants are now beginning to bloom, adding a splash of summer colour to Frome station while supporting honeybees that forage for pollen and nectar. The support of wildlife through the implementation of biodiversity is showing that people and wildlife can co-exist on the railway, bringing the benefits of nature to the familiar commute and brightening up the station for passengers.

Aleka Toogood, Network Rail environment specialist, said: 

“I’d like to thank Frome Station Friends, The Bee Friendly Trust and all the volunteers for the fantastic work they’re doing to make the station a haven for bees.

“The railway plays a vital role in connecting wildlife habitats and these planters will help to support urban ecosystems by providing spaces for bees and other pollinators to thrive.

“The project offers broader social benefits for the community as well as the bees and helps connect local communities to the environment.

“There’s been a concerning decline in bees, butterflies and other pollinators across Britain and Network Rail has been working on a range of initiatives aimed at protecting these vital insects, which are crucial to a healthy environment.”

Emma Pritchard of The Bee Friendly Trust said: 

“We are so excited that there are now four bee-friendly planters at Frome railway station, plus an educational mural in the waiting room.

“These projects not only provide vital forage and habitats for bees and myriad wildlife, but they also demonstrate the powerful role that community spirit and creative thinking can play when it comes to supporting pollinator populations.

“We hope the planters inspire users of the station to do their bit for nature – simply putting a pot of lavender on their doorstep or creating a window box of flowering herbs can have a positive impact.”

The integration of biodiversity is something stations across the UK should seek to emulate, as it aids in the maintenance of local areas natural habitats, whilst giving rail passengers a brighter journey throughout their daily commute. This project adheres to the objectives outlined in the Network Rail’s environmental sustainability strategy.

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