Animals find home at Elmstead Woods station after gardeners create flourishing wildlife habitat

With its fishpond, pergolas, bird tables and herb garden, it’s arguably one of the nicest places to wait for a train in south-east London. But who is behind all the pruning, weeding and planting that makes the station so well-loved? Hatty Collier reports.

Twenty years ago, two former station employees began extensive planting, landscaping and removing rubble at Elmstead Woods to make way for a flourishing garden.

Today, Southeastern ticket office employee Stephen Leggett, who has worked at the zone 4 station for a decade leads a volunteer team who maintain the garden and have helped it to transform into a blossoming animal habitat.

Mr Leggett, 46, and his green-fingered colleagues Allan Williams and Paul Ames, with a host of other volunteers look after the habitat in their own time.

Last year, the trio even rescued a stricken fox cub whose den was behind platform four.

The station is home to all sorts of wildlife, including squirrels, rabbits, woodpeckers, owls, frogs, newts and dragonflies, which are often attracted by the fishpond.

Southeastern employees and volunteers team up with B&Q Sidcup staff to take care of the Elmstead Woods station garden's animal habitat 

Roy Vinnacombe, duty station manager at Elmstead Woods, said: “It’s not just the animals that love our station.

“Stephen, our employees and the volunteers have over the years created a welcoming environment for passengers too.

“We’re very proud of the hard work that goes into maintaining the garden, as we are committed to providing a pleasant environment for passengers and to being part of our local community.”

Over the years, the gardening team have painted benches, erected two large pergolas, planted an array of flowers and built bird tables, feeders and an insect hotel.

Potted plants are littered along some of the duller platforms areas and a water feature has been installed in one of the garden’s two ponds.

Southeastern employees and volunteers team up with B&Q Sidcup staff to take care of the Elmstead Woods station garden's animal habitat 

This winter, Sidcup’s B&Q branch have donated some extra creature comforts including bird baths, tables and squirrel-proof feeders to help protect the animals during the cold snap.

The store has also provided food containers for other animals, mesh wiring to cover the ponds and plant pots, compost and spades to help volunteers keep the garden groomed for Christmas.

Sean Hipkin, duty manager for B&Q Sidcup, said: “Many of us at the store live locally and wanted to get involved.

“I hope we’ve made some home improvements that will help local wildlife thrive.”

Mr Vinnacombe said his team were very grateful to B&Q for its support.

To find out more about how you can get involved with the team who maintains the garden, you can ask to speak to Mr Leggett at the station or look out for the dates of the gardening sessions posted in the ticket office.

Is this your favourite station in south-east London or even in the UK? Leave your comments below.