Communal allotment plan for rail station

Commuters at Sleaford railway station are set to see an overgrown patch of land given a make-over to become a community allotment.

The plot on Platform 1, next to the ticket office, has been overgrown and in need of attention for some time.

Jo Andrew, community rail officer for the Poacher Line, explained they approached Lincolnshire gardener Kirsty Ward to create an allotment on Platform 1. She runs a blog, ‘My Little Allotment’, having started her allotment to help with post traumatic stress disorder after a difficult birth of her second daughter. She heard of gardening therapy as a way to manage her condition.

The partnership has secured funding for Kirsty and once the main clearance and creation by Kirsty is complete they will engage with local mental health charities and other organisations to plant it up and maintain it. The intention is to either donate the food to food banks or other good causes or sell some to re-invest back into the garden.

Jo said the exciting project was due to start in March, but has been on hold until Covid-19 guidelines permit.

Kirsty commented on the new scheme via her Twitter feed: “I can’t wait to get our project underway building a communal allotment at the station.

“Gardening is one of the most therapeutic things to do and if there is any way that you can get involved, make sure that you go and volunteer at a local communal garden at a local rail station and get involved.”