The Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership have once again seen accreditation awarded for its incredible work in a broad range of projects which support the community and encourage green travel, such as breastfeeding-friendly trains and an array of gardening projects at a number of stations.

Cllr Susan van de Ven, Chair of the Community Rail Partnership, said: “We’re delighted that the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership has been accredited for the third year running and are proud of the varied projects which support train use. Travelling by train is not only much better for the environment than driving a car but also a totally different way to experience a journey. In addition, a lot of hard work goes into ensuring we have beautiful stations and platform areas and we’d like to say a big thank you to the many volunteers who make this happen.”

The partnership’s recent projects are as follows:

• Encouraging breastfeeding-friendly trains via the #FreeToFeedCP campaign.
• Explore the Great Outdoors along the Cambridge Line Campaign which aims to encourage people to make use of the Cambridge to Hitchin line and features a number of ideas for activities at each stop such as Hitchin lavender fields, Shepreth Wildlife Park, Ashwell Springs and Cambridge Botanic Garden.
• Station gardening project which has seen tubs replanted and watered by volunteers.
• An area of overgrown land behind Meldreth platform has been cleared and replanted by volunteers and the Meldreth Veg Club.
• Safeguarding the Cambridgeshire Student Connect Card providing a 50% travel discount.
• Supporting the Duke of Edinburgh volunteers and other young people looking for community experience.
• Representing the views of local residents via local transport consultations.
• Working closely with the rail operating company in order to bring back services affected by lockdown.

As community rail thrives, a movement of approximately 75 community rail partnerships has been built throughout Britain in a bid to engage local communities, promote social inclusion and green travel by working with rail operators to create improvement and bring life back to railway stations.

The Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership is hosted by South Cambridgeshire District Council and sees funding provided by Govia Thameslink Railway and Melbourn, Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Parish Councils.

For more information about the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership, please visit: meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk