Gardening volunteer group gets £6k boost from Great Western Railway to celebrate Railway 200

A project to record the historical importance of the Tamar Valley market gardening industry, and the impact the railways had in delivering produce to market, has received a grant of more than £6,000 from Great Western Railway.

Gardening volunteer group, Calstock in Bloom, successfully applied for a grant from the train operator’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund, which was launched in January of this year, to support local communities and address areas of social need. The focus of this year’s projects is a connection to the Railway 200 celebrations.

As part of GWR’s National Rail Contract with the Department for Transport, the train operator is committed to supporting schools, colleges, councils, community and other not-for-profit organisations by aiding a number of initiatives.

Working closely with Calstock Archives, an outstanding mural has been created to capture the rich history of the Tamar Valley market gardening industry, which at its height in the 1950’s employed around 1,000 people to deliver a vibrant range of produce including daffodils, irises, strawberries, apples, pears and cherries. The produce was transported across the UK via the ‘Fruit & Flower’ trains that left the valley four times a day.

The impressive mural now adorns the walls of Calstock station shelter, as a warm welcome to visitors to the area.

Vice-chair of Calstock in Bloom, Colin Bates, said:

“We’re extremely grateful for this funding from Great Western Railway, which has helped to not only deliver an excellent public work of art but has also facilitated the education of the local community in what was happening here only a generation previously.

“When the autumn term commences, we will be running dedicated art sessions with the local primary school. These will cover not only the creative aspect but also help them in understanding the history of their community. We’ve also been able to deliver an art workshop to local residents around the flowers that were grown in the valley.

“Looking forward, we hope this will be a legacy that continues to encourage visitors to the beauty of the Tamar Valley, which in turn will help our local businesses.

GWR Senior Community Impact Manager, Emma Morris, said:

“The Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest in our communities with projects that really make a difference at a local level.

“This year we celebrate 200 years of the railway, and the Tamar Valley’s Fruit & Flower trains made up a valuable and fascinating part of both the railway and the community’s history. Their story could easily have been swept away as the years go by, however due to the care and commitment of Calstock in Bloom and Calstock Archives, we can be sure that this moment in time will be remembered for another 200 years by all who live here and visit the area.”