Wakefield Kirkgate's Community Gardening Group on Tour

LonGBoaT Wakefield's Volunteering and Training Officer, Taylor, recently headed out for a day with members of our Wakefield Kirkgate Community Gardening volunteer group to visit some other fantastic Northern station adoption groups on the Calder Valley Line (West Yorkshire).

It was a brilliant opportunity to see what other station adoption and friends groups are doing, share ideas and pick up inspiration that we can bring back to Wakefield Kirkgate Railway Station. 

One thing that really stood out throughout the day, everyone we met was incredibly welcoming and generous with their time. We visited five stations, each with its own character, history and approach to volunteering. 

Brighouse 

Our first stop was Brighouse, where we met Richard, a long-standing volunteer and a leading member of the station's planting team. Richard showed us around their various gardens and projects and talked us through how the group manages its water supplies and approaches local sponsorship for planters. There were plenty of ideas for us to take away as we continue developing the horticulture work at Wakefield Kirkgate. 

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You can find out more about the Brighouse station community through their website 

Sowerby Bridge 

Next up was Sowerby Bridge, where we started with a visit to the station café before meeting the volunteers. Our group had plenty of questions, and the volunteers were more than happy to share their knowledge. We learned about the history of the station, had a tour and saw some of the wonderful small gardens dotted around the site. The station also has a fascinating history, with volunteers having been involved in gathering and preserving stories connected to the station. It's a great example of how station volunteering can go beyond gardening and bring local history and community stories into everyday railway spaces. 

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You can find out more through the Sowerby Bridge station community on their website.

Mytholmroyd 

At Mytholmroyd, we had a lovely walk around the station and saw a range of projects being delivered by the local volunteers. One idea that immediately caught our attention was their rainwater collection system! It's a simple system that can essentially be freestanding, is relatively quick and straightforward to put together, and once filled can provide water for around two to three weeks. As we're continuing to develop our own plans at Wakefield Kirkgate, ideas around sustainable water use are particularly interesting to us. 

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You can find out more about the Mytholmroyd station community on Facebook.

Hebden Bridge 

Our next stop was Hebden Bridge, where we met Lesley, the secretary of the station group. Lesley gave us plenty of advice and showed us around the station, including their waiting room, which is packed with historical information. There's also an information leaflet stand and a bookcase that's open for members of the public to use. The station itself feels like stepping back in time, with many of its original features retained. It was a great reminder that looking after a station isn't simply about making it look good preserving its history and character can be just as important. 

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You can find out more about the Friends of Hebden Bridge Station at their website. 

Todmorden 

Our final stop of the day was Todmorden, where we met Shura, Vicky and Jean. Once again, we received a truley warm welcome and were given a fantastic tour of the station, along with plenty of information about the work being carried out by the group.

Jean was a particular fountain of knowledge, having been involved with the station for more than 20 years. Over that time, Jean has taken on a range of roles, from chair and secretary to the invaluable volunteer she is today. Her experience demonstrated just how much knowledge and commitment can build up within a station volunteering group over many years. 

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You can find out more about the Friends of Todmorden Station on Facebook.

Bringing Ideas Back to Wakefield 

Days like this are incredibly valuable to our volunteers. We're not trying to copy what other groups do. Every station is different, and every community has its own needs. But by visiting other groups, talking to experienced volunteers and seeing projects first-hand, we can learn what works, what doesn't and what might work at Wakefield Kirkgate. 

From planting and sponsorship to rainwater collection, station history and creating welcoming spaces, we've come away with plenty of ideas. Most importantly, the day showed the strength of the wider community rail volunteering network. Volunteers across the region are putting their time, skills and enthusiasm into making their stations better places, and they're willing to share that knowledge with others. 

A huge thank you to Richard, Lesley, Shura, Vicky, Jean and all the volunteers who welcomed us throughout the day. And of course, thank you to our own Wakefield Kirkgate Community Gardening Group for coming along, asking questions and getting stuck into the day. 

We're looking forward to putting some of what we've learned into practice!