Local club 'adopts' Kilmarnock Station

Friday 4 September 2009

An Ayrshire gardening club has made Kilmarnock Station brighter than ever.

It follows a partnership with ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme.

The station platform now has 21 half-barrel planters with flowers and plants to greet customers with a burst of colour all year round.

East Ayrshire Gardening Club carried out the work after Willie Coffey, MSP suggested to ScotRail to approach its members to freshen up the previous floral displays.

Mr Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Loudon, said: "I am delighted with the colourful results of the club’s ‘adoption’ of Kilmarnock Station."

He added:  "The station is set for an even brighter future with the new half-hourly train service to Glasgow starting this December."

Brian Kirkwood, chairman of East Ayrshire Gardening Club, said: "We are pleased to adopt Kilmarnock Station and are grateful to station staff for their assistance in maintaining our displays."

John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said almost 80 stations have now been adopted by volunteer gardeners.

He added: "We are delighted to welcome East Ayrshire Gardening Club into our Adopt a Station scheme, and have funded brightening up the platforms and concourse at Kilmarnock."

ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme has gone from strength to strength since launched in September 2005. In addition to gardening schemes, initiatives range from spectacular murals, coffee shops, a second hand bookshop, a toy library, community meeting rooms and a model railway club room.

Media enquiries
John Yellowlees, ScotRail Communications: 0141 335 4787 / john.yellowlees@firstgroup.com
www.scotrail.co.uk