The stations
Everywhere is unique and our stations reflect this. On the platforms of Gretna Green we grew heather to welcome travellers to the first station stop in Scotland. To celebrate Gretna’s long tradition as a marriage destination, we also had a dedicated Wedding Garden planted with flowers symbolic of love. Stranraer had plants which can withstand the strong winds and salt air endured by this coastal station, while Eucalyptus citriodora provided a widely celebrated and natural solution to the scourge of midges at Barrhill. We were delighted to include paintings by local artists at Dumfries and Ayr stations. The Dumfries station gardens also included a biodiversity garden with an array of native plants, as well as a faith garden (opposite ‘River of Life’ church) with many of the plants mentioned in the Bible, such as olive, fig, dates, chamomile and laurel.
Where the journey began...
It all started in a garden in Wigtownshire, where Louis grew the plants from seed. Once ready, these were transported by bus and train to the stations and planted with the help of volunteers. Louis grew 5,000 bedding plants for the stations each year and at the height of summer was known to travel over 1,000 miles per week by train to keep plants watered and healthy.