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Blooming lovely station plants bring decade of joy

Alex PopeNorthamptonshire
News imageKettering Civic Society David Rose kneeling down by a railway trolley with autumn vegetation on it, including pumpkins. He is wearing a pink high-vis jacket. There are two wooden planters, with plants in them, on his trolley. Kettering Civic Society
A station trolley, which David Rose can be seen tending to, has a seasonal theme and the display changes with the seasons

A group of volunteers who set up home in an empty railway station room have said tending to its flowers, in lieu of having to pay rent, has been "blooming lovely".

The Kettering Civic Society did not have a permanent home, but moved into Kettering Railway Station in exchange for creating a garden in its car park.

Its displays have grown steadily since the volunteers set up their base in 2016. The group's mantra is to protect, preserve and promote the Northamptonshire town.

David Rose, from the town, got involved with the project after volunteering via a programme run by his employer.

"It's worth doing, the work is appreciated, it's pride, we're proud of our town and they don't get vandalised," he explained.

"It's been successful - blooming lovely."

News imageKettering Civic Society Monica Ozdemir and David Rose, in a railway station. David is to the right and kneeling down with a black dog, by a woman, with jeans on, black top and pink high-vis jacket, they are by plants in pots and Monica is holding two plant pots. A trolley is next to them, also with plants in. Kettering Civic Society
Monica Ozdemir and David Rose have helped create the floral displays at Kettering Railway Station over the last 10 years

Monica Ozdemir, the civic society secretary for 26 years, said it gave her a "sense of pride and it's a lovely welcome for visitors to the town".

Ozdemir praised fellow volunteers David and Joy Smith, and Mike Britton, for helping too.

The society helps maintain high standards of architecture and planning in the town, as well as encouraging civic pride.

"It's been absolutely fantastic," she said.

"We even have an exhibition space in our room - it's wonderful to see how it's evolved and grown.

"We started off with the garden, that wasn't a garden, it was Tarmac and we used a pickaxe to plant roses."

News imageKettering Civic Society An area of a railway station without plants, showing metal fencing, brick structures and a ramp with glass and mud on it. A flower bed, in the corner is empty. There is a sign on the railings. Kettering Civic Society
Parts of the railway station were looking neglected before the civic society moved in
News imageKettering Civic Society A flower bed full of plants including yellow tulips, pink flowers, blue plants and white plants. A blue lamp post can be seen in the distance. Kettering Civic Society
But the site has benefited from tender love and care

Ozdemir said travellers "absolutely love it; we've had so many compliments, even the staff at the station say it cheers them up".

She said there were no plans to stop and hoped the society would recruit more younger volunteers.

"The next big project we're going to do is create some artwork along the footbridge to the station," said Ozdemir.

"I do it just for the satisfaction of seeing lovely plants."

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