A group of volunteers at South Woodham Ferrers railway station in Essex has celebrated a decade since they first adopted the station. It is located on the single-track Crouch Valley Line which links Wickford with Southminster.

Over the last ten years, colourful murals have been installed along the platforms, a talking bench has been installed and there is a history board providing tourists with local information. The group also looks after floral displays and a station garden has been developed, including a rose garden and a Platinum Jubilee tree.

Thirsty travellers can use the water dispenser which has been installed and the group has made contact with a local school which had led to a display of artwork at the station.

The original six volunteers Angela Kellett, Bob Barnes, Ged Cooper, Freddie Knighton, Bernice Knighton and Jenny Martin were recently joined by a new volunteer, Jim Simmonds.

They meet every Sunday to tend to the gardens and flower tubs, as well as to keep the platforms tidy. They have been working as part of Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption initiative and are supported by Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership which both assists with projects and provides funding.

The station adoption scheme is now in its 20th year with 330 adopters working across the region.  Adopters work with Greater Anglia and, on some branch lines, with the local community rail partnership. Funding is provided by Greater Anglia for small projects to improve a station’s environment.

Jayne Sumner, Rail Engagement Manager for the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership, said: “The volunteer team at South Woodham Ferrers are just outstanding and we are so lucky to have them. It has been a real pleasure to work with them on so many varied projects and help bring their ideas for the station to fruition. I would like to thank them for their dedication and efforts which have greatly improved the station.”

Alan Neville, Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Greater Anglia, added: “Congratulations to the team at South Woodham Ferrers on achieving this milestone. On behalf of Greater Anglia, I would like to commend them for their incredible commitment and achievements in helping to improve South Woodham Ferrers for customers and the community alike – and the Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership for their invaluable support.”

“Our station adopters are real heroes who achieve amazing things to benefit their communities and make them better places to live, with their enthusiasm to bring rural stations to life and restore their links to the communities they serve.”