From autumn planting to local railway heritage
After a hot, dry summer, the Friends of Ellesmere Port Station are turning their attention to autumn planting and new ideas for the months ahead.
The 22-strong volunteer group has spent much of the summer watering flower displays and caring for the station’s colourful planters. Despite the challenging conditions, their efforts have helped keep the station looking welcoming for passengers and visitors.
Now, with autumn underway, volunteers are sowing seeds ready for spring and cutting back overgrown greenery around the station.
One recent job involved clearing a bush that had grown over the main car park sign. After cutting back the vegetation, the volunteers also cleaned the sign, making it easier for visitors to see.
Their hard work was recently recognised with a Gold Award at the Merseyrail in Bloom Awards 2026. However, there is still plenty the group hopes to achieve.
Bringing the Little Garden Back to Life
Just outside the main station building is a small garden area that once contained colourful plants and greenery. More recently, however, the space has been left bare.
The Friends group hopes to restore this area with plants such as lavender and rosemary. As well as adding colour and fragrance, these plants could help attract bees and other pollinating insects.
Although it is a relatively small space, bringing the garden back to life would make another positive difference to the station environment.
Looking Beyond Ellesmere Port Station
With 22 volunteers now involved, the Friends group is exploring opportunities to support neighbouring railway stations.
Working with Merseyrail, the group is considering how its activities could extend to Little Sutton, Overpool and Hooton. Each station offers different possibilities for improvement, from maintaining green spaces to caring for existing artwork and heritage features.
Hooton Station is an important interchange for Merseyrail passengers travelling towards Chester and Ellesmere Port. Its longer staffed hours could also make it easier for volunteers to arrange activities and access equipment when needed.
However, these plans are still being explored. Any future projects would be developed with Merseyrail and the volunteers involved.
Rediscovering Railway Heritage at Little Sutton
Little Sutton Station offers some particularly interesting opportunities to care for existing artwork and local railway heritage.
On Platform 2, which serves Liverpool-bound trains, a poppy memorial is partly hidden behind overgrown foliage. Meanwhile, further artwork on the Ellesmere Port-bound platform includes designs inspired by wartime themes.
With some attention and careful restoration, these features could become more visible to passengers once again.
The station also has a personal connection to its volunteering history.
Near the Platform 2 entrance stands a planter dedicated to former volunteer Ada Royles, who was an enthusiastic supporter and friend of Little Sutton Station.
The planter also contains a holly plant and a plaque commemorating those who left Little Sutton Railway Station to go to war.
Together, these features provide reminders of the people and events connected with the station. Looking after them could help preserve an important part of the area’s railway history.
They also show how station volunteering can involve much more than gardening. For example, volunteers with an interest in local history, heritage or community artwork could have a valuable part to play in future projects.
Community Volunteering That Makes a Difference
The Friends of Ellesmere Port Station continue to show what local people can achieve by working together.
Their efforts also reflect North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership’s Stations in Their Place theme, which encourages stations to become welcoming spaces connected to their surrounding communities.
From caring for flowerbeds to exploring railway heritage, there are many ways for volunteers to contribute. Furthermore, taking part offers opportunities to meet people, share interests and become more involved in local community life.
As the group considers its next projects, its growing membership provides a valuable starting point for future activities at Ellesmere Port and potentially further along the line.
Get Involved with Your Local Station
Would you like to help care for your local railway station?
Whether you enjoy gardening, local history, photography or community projects, there may be opportunities to get involved.
Find out more about Friends of Ellesmere Port Station or explore volunteering opportunities with North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership.
Article by Oliver Jones, Social Media and Communications Volunteer, North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership.
