DUMFRIES ADOPTIVE RAILWAY GARDENERS

Over a thousand volunteers from across Scotland have adopted their local railway station to enhance the look for the entire community to enjoy. In 2023, ScotRail invested over £100,000 in adopters’ hard work.

Each station involved in the programme receives an annual budget to spend on plants, bulbs and equipment to make their station beautiful. And there’s the option to apply for a bigger grant if a station needs an extra bit of love.

Through their hard work, station adopters benefit from improved mental health and physical fitness, togetherness with their neighbours, and an immense sense of pride.

• 207 ScotRail stations have been adopted by community groups

• 218 groups are involved in improving the physical environment of stations

• 1,040 volunteers dedicate their time to their local communities

Dumfries Adoptive Railway Gardeners (DARG) are winners of the ScotRail In the Community Gold Adopted Station of the Year 2023 award. DARG is an awardwinning voluntary group that maintains and develops Dumfries Station gardens.

Ann Roberts of DARG said: “We aim to make the garden more sustainable and eco-friendly with our gardening practices.

“ScotRail provides an annual budget for plants and materials to allow us to keep doing our work.

“We were also lucky enough to win GOLD last year at ScotRail in the Community Awards for being the Adopted Station of the Year.

“The work we do enhances the station for the local community and all arriving at Dumfries station to visit the town, and certainly makes our volunteers feel fulfilled doing what they love best.”