Our students were super excited to adopt St Columb Road station with the mission to make it a brighter, more welcoming station on the Atlantic Coast Line.
Working with teams from Great Western Railway, Charlotte, Jessica, James, Harrison, Clyde, Jordan and Allan were among over 20 students who took ownership of the project and have proudly seen it through to the end.
As part of Growing Futures, the Orchard’s very own education course, our students complete a module in ‘giving back to their community.’ They decided as a group that adopting the station was the perfect way to go.
The students are completing practical outdoor learning courses as an alternative to college with Newquay Orchard. They started off with a visit to the station with the Station Master to record their ideas and create designs to bring some more greenery to the station.
The aim? To create a ‘safe, environmentally friendly and positive space’ for people in the community to sit whilst waiting for their train.
With the help of Orchard staff and thanks to funding from GWR, the students planned and purchased all the materials required, from soil and wood to plants and building materials for their planters.
They then created two bench planters that could seat up to 3 people and surround them with plants and flowers.
The benches were installed as part of the leaving students’ graduation celebration, and in September they added compost, a variety of herbs, flowering plants and greenery that will provide a sensory experience for those who use the seating area. They recently returned to add Daffodil and tulip bulbs ready for flowering in early spring!
The students really enjoyed learning how to use new woodworking tools, developing new carpentry skills and, more than anything, seeing something they’ve created make such a difference. This project was all about bringing smiles to people’s faces – and it’s certainly succeeded there. They’re so proud of their work and are looking forward to keeping it beautiful this coming year.
Gemma Lewry, Education Officer at Newquay Orchard
Have a look and enjoy a peaceful sit with the new planters next time you visit St Columb!