Norfolk railway station becomes ‘wildlife haven’

Attleborough Station's team of volunteer ‘station adopters' have created a brand new wildlife habitat at the Norfolk station, which will benefit bird life such as sparrows and dunnocks as well as other amazing creatures.

The station adoption team are part of the Attleborough Heritage Group and came up with a plan to plant 60 metres of hedgerow in the stations new car park.

The project is being funded via Attleborough Bloomers, Attleborough Town Council and Greater Anglia.

A Norfolk Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer recently carried out a wildlife survey which saw the station achieve the ‘Wildlife Friendly Station' accreditation thanks to the platform garden areas which were getting regular visits from dunnocks and house sparrows.

The report gave a fantastic suggestion of adding a mixed hedgerow to the station in order to create an even better habitat for the vulnerable species, providing them with space for food, breeding and shelter.

Hannah Nairn, Jane Doughty and Cliff Amos have led the project with a donation of saplings given by Councillor Taila Taylor via the Attleborough Bloomers with the local town council also providing further investment for more saplings and tree guards.

The ‘Greater Anglia Wildlife Friendly Stations Accreditation Scheme' was created in a partnership between the rail operator and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

The scheme recognises the amazing work of community volunteers in creating improvements in biodiversity in a bid to support local wildlife at stations across the Greater Anglia network.

“House sparrow and dunnock populations are sadly in decline, so we were absolutely delighted when Greater Anglia supported the idea of a hedge around the new car park to help support them.

“I would like to thank the Attleborough Bloomers and Attleborough Town Council for the funding and donation of saplings that has made this project possible.”

Jane Doughty, Station Adopter

“We were delighted to support the station adopters at Attleborough in their aims to make Attleborough station even more wildlife friendly.

“The hedge will not only improve the appearance of the car park but is going to play an important role in supporting local wildlife populations, turning a previously ‘dead space' into a haven.”

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia's Customer and Community Engagment Manger