Museum to restore green spaces 'lost to railways'

Funding of £22,500 has been awarded to a town's railway museum for its project to restore green spaces at the site.

Crewe Heritage Trust, which runs the Crewe Heritage Centre in Cheshire, said it would attempt to recreate some of the natural landscape it lost when the railway arrived in the town in 1837.

As part of the project, a green corridor would be created, along with wildlife habitats like bird boxes, insect hotels and a mini pond.

Six pocket gardens would also be installed, each telling different stories about Crewe's past, the heritage trust said.

The locomotive workshop would be enhanced with improvements including new water butts for rain collection and a green roof.

Gordon Heddon, chair of Crewe Heritage Trust, said the grant, awarded by the Julia Rausing Trust, would help the site to reconnect with its pre-industrial landscape.

He said: "By restoring green space, creating new wildlife habitats and involving volunteers, children and families, we're ensuring our heritage site is not only a place to learn about the past but a living, breathing space that supports nature, wellbeing and community pride."

The trust will be holding a number of drop-in activities in connection with the project when the centre reopens on 1 April.

Those who want to be part of the delivering the scheme can express their interest via the Crewe Heritage Centre's website.

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