Hive of activity at Oxford Station thanks to GWR grant
Oxford Station will be transformed into a thriving floral habitat for honeybees thanks to an £18,500 grant from Great Western Railway.
The Bee Friendly Trust will use the funding to create several bee-friendly projects and educational art instalments, with input from local schools and artists.
As part of GWR’s franchise agreement with the Department for Transport, the train operator has a Community Cohesion Fund to assist small community charities, enterprises and station adopters.
The Bee Friendly Trust’s co-founder Dr Luke Dixon said:
“This project will help the local bee population flourish, while also educating the travelling public about the importance of pollinators and helping to improve the local environment.
“Honeybees can fly up to three miles from the hive when out foraging for pollen and nectar, but in areas that are densely populated or over-farmed they sometimes struggle to find enough food.”
Planters made from railway sleepers will be installed and filled with pollinator-friendly plants such as lavender, rosemary, salvia and verbena, and some planters will be used to create a new ‘Welcome’ sign as part of a competition with local schools.
A wildlife area will also be created alongside the bike storage area, transforming the site into a pollinator-friendly haven along with bird boxes and a bee-themed mural.
GWR Community Manager Emma Morris said:
“The Bee Friendly Trust carries out vital work to help our local bee populations to flourish. This funding will bring the community together by involving schools and helping to improve the environment.”
To find out more about the Bee Friendly Trust please visit beefriendlytrust.org
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year.
Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us
The Bee Friendly Trust began with two urban beekeepers putting some bee friendly planters on Putney station in West London. The aim was to increase forage for urban bees. That was in 2016. Nearby stations asked for planters. Network Rail and Transport for London got involved. The two beekeepers were joined by others. And now the charity has a dedicated team of specialists and volunteers.
Contact Information
John Carter
Media and Communications Manager
Great Western Railway
0845 410 4444