The new public garden at Rayleigh station is now in the running at the Anglia In Bloom awards for ‘Best Community Space’.

The station garden has previously won ‘Best Shared Garden’ at the Rayleigh In Bloom competition.

The garden was worked on by The Friends of Rayleigh Station and opened on the 19th May. They worked with the Essex and Suffolk Community Rail Partnership, the Town Council, local residents and Greater Anglia to transform the area.

The aim of the competition is to encourage imaginative improvements of surroundings with the use of trees, flowers, and landscaping, while also increasing biodiversity.

Students at Sweyne Park School designed murals for the garden, a bug hotel was built by the 1st Rayleigh Cubs and a range of plants were donated by locals.

£14,850 was received in grants for the project with an additional £2000 raised by individuals and local businesses.

The winners of the competition will be announced on 7th September 2022.

Community Rail Partnership Officer, Catherine Gaywood, said, “We’re delighted to hear that the station garden has already been recognised at Rayleigh in Bloom and now Anglia In Bloom.

“It’s a fitting endorsement for all the hard work that has been done to create this lovely community space, with so many people offering help and support and we have been delighted to hear the kind and appreciative comments as the garden has developed.

“Being recognised with awards so soon after it has opened is the icing on the cake.”

Jonathan Denby, Greater Anglia’s Head of Corporate Affairs, said, “This great new public space further enhances the benefits that the station can bring to the town – and helps to place it at the heart of the community, increasing awareness of the opportunities to catch a train for work, social and leisure opportunities.”