Transport for London (TfL) has announced the winners of its annual ‘In Bloom' staff gardening competition, which this year focussed on creating a healthier and happier planet.
‘In Bloom' recognises green-fingered TfL staff who dedicate their free time each year to create gardens at stations, depots, and offices, often with the support of local people and businesses.
The gardens, feature everything from fruit and vegetable patches to air-purifying plants and give a sense of well-being to the millions of people who travel around London every day and complement TfL's work in protecting and improving the environment to help tackle the climate crisis
The competition launched over 100 years ago at the time of the District Railway.
Since then, staff have made creative use of space on the transport network with flower beds, vegetable patches, hanging baskets and window boxes on platforms and balconies, and even in spaces as small as control room windows. It gives stations and their staff the opportunity to use their imagination, with plants being grown in a range of upcycled items such as old tyres, old food delivery crates, and food containers.
The theme for this year's competition was ‘Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Earth,' as a recognition of the increasing threats from climate change. There were 57 entries from across the TfL network, and they were judged by over 40 volunteers, with the winners announced at an awards ceremony at City Hall.
The Best in Show award as well as the Fruit & Vegetables category went to Morden Tube station in south London, where staff have been growing fruit and vegetables on a disused platform for around eight years, with a wide variety of foods from sour cherries, chilli peppers, and apricots, to limes, kale, and gooseberries, that are shared with colleagues and customers. They have also created a wellness meeting space, sheltered by flowers, for staff meetings.
North London's Highbury & Islington station won in the Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Earth category for its small yet impactful garden inside the station entrance that proves what can be done with a modest indoor space. The use of air-purifying plants such as ivy, kentia palms, and peace lilies helps to absorb pollution and creates a calming green oasis for the thousands of people passing through the station every day.
Other categories and winners include:
Cultivated Station Garden – Acton Town station, where a disused platform has been transformed into a riot of colour by growing plants in recycled containers.
Environment – Northfields Train Crew Accommodation (TCA), where the garden focusses on sustainability, with water butts to collect rainwater and compost bins.
Best Newcomer – Hammersmith Service Control Centre, where in just a few months a group of staff transformed a disused area to create multiple planters and a gathering area for colleagues.
Cultivated Depot Garden – Upminster TCA, where the station garden features a range of colourful plants and a fig tree, and displays memorial plaques for former staff who have passed away.
Indoor Garden – Blackhorse Road, where a stunning garden that has been created by station staff with the help of the station's convenience store and local businesses uses artificial and real plants to lift customers' spirits.
John Knight Hanging Baskets, Tubs and Window Boxes Award – Hainault TCA, where in just three months train driver Julia Bryant transformed an outdoor area with a range of tubs and baskets, with part of the garden dedicated to a WW1 memorial.
Sandra Wilkes Community Award – South Tottenham station, London Overground, where students from the local community helped staff to transform a large garden with a range of flowers, vegetables and other plants.
Best Seasoned Entry – Barking TCA, where the garden focuses on wellbeing through staff turning it into a peaceful environment with crystals and a range of fragrant herbs.
Mark Evers, TfL's Chief Customer Officer, said: “As a judge in our fiercely contested In Bloom competition, I am always so impressed by the fresh ideas, creativity and energy that staff and local people and businesses bring to these gardens, benefitting both staff and people travelling around the city.
“While the gardens bring an element of tranquillity, inviting Londoners to slow down and savour a moment in nature, this year's theme reflects the increasing urgency of tackling climate change and the pace at which we are working as an organisation towards a cleaner, greener transport network.”
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “I am truly impressed by the dedication and creativity demonstrated by TfL staff at the annual ‘In Bloom' competition. These gardens will bring a sense of calm and wellbeing to staff and people using the transport network.
“The threats of climate change are increasing day by day. The theme for this year's competition illustrates that all of us can play our part in creating a healthier planet and supports the Mayor's aim to continue building a cleaner, greener and more prosperous London for everyone.”
