Going green – but not to Greenrigg

THE Aln Valley Railway has cancelled its official opening day for Greenrigg Halt on April 3 because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The railway has also said it will not run public services until the end of April at the earliest, while the May 25/26 music festival has also been cancelled

However, the line’s team of volunteers have been involved in an alternative activity.

Sainsburys supermarkets have been collaborating with the Woodland Trust to supply tree and hedge packs to community groups, and the railway successfully applied to become part of the scheme.

On March 19 a team of about 20 volunteers – taking care to maintain social distancing – took part in a programme of tree and hedge planting.

The railway had been given 400 ‘whips’ made up of hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, rowan, alder, oak and birch. These were planted as hedging near the stations at Lionheart and Greenrigg, and singly along the line.