Three more of Greater Anglia’s stations now have ‘Wildlife Friendly’ accreditation.
The scheme was set up by Greater Anglia and Norfolk Wildlife Trust to give recognition to the work of community volunteer ‘station adopters’ that improve biodiversity and support nature on the network.
Last week, this ‘Greater Anglia Wildlife Friendly Stations Accreditation Scheme’ gave recognition to its first station volunteers, at Brundall Gardens.
Now, Cantley, West Runton and Thetford stations have also been given accreditation for their work supporting local flora and fauna. The accreditation is given following assessment by a Norfolk Wildlife Trust Conservation Officer.
Putting nature into recovery
James Hogg, Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s corporate and membership development officer, said: “The alarming decline in the abundance of wildlife and the plight of species under threat means that just protecting the nature we have left is not enough; we need to put nature into recovery, and to do so at scale and with urgency. We are working to create a nature recovery network across Norfolk – and with fellow wildlife trusts across the UK – to create more space for wildlife.
“This project with Greater Anglia is a fantastic example of how people can transform nature-poor areas into new nature-rich places – and change the way we think about land, seizing opportunities to help nature outside traditional nature reserves.”
Every assessment carried out also offers people looking after the station some tips and advice and can be used to spread word on best practice.
Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, “We’re delighted to partner with the region’s wildlife trusts to formally recognise the valuable work of our station adopter volunteers in supporting wildlife and improving their local environment.
“I’d like to congratulate the volunteers at these stations on receiving this recognition and thank them for the incredible work that are doing that makes each station a wonderful place to be, that is contributing to support biodiversity locally.”
Volunteers on the network last year transformed more than 6,800 square metres of land into thriving wildlife gardens.
Recently, Greater Anglia station adopters reported a wide range of creatures visiting their stations. These include many different types of butterflies as well as bees, slow worms, bats, foxes, deer and many varieties of birds, recording more than 200 different species.
Greater Anglia’s work to cut waste, help local wildlife and reduce the carbon footprint of railway stations will be informed by the industry’s Sustainable Stations: Best Practice Guide. This guide details ways in which train operators can meet this commitment in support of global goals of decarbonisation, reducing waste and supporting local plant and animal life.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s vision for a Nature Recovery Network imagines a landscape in which nature reserves are linked by habitat corridors, through which wild species flow freely. Importantly, it hopes people also become personally connected to wildlife and wild landscape, for their own wellbeing and for the benefit of nature.
