Thameslink creates buzz about biodiversity

There’s been a hive of activity at six Thameslink railway stations where wildlife experts have installed 20 new ‘homes for nature’, said to be the bee’s knees for a wide variety of animals.

As part of Thameslink’s biodiversity commitments, the Bee Friendly Trust has built bee hotels for solitary insects and bird boxes at London Blackfriars, Kentish Town, Radlett, Harlington, Flitwick and St Albans stations.

Small shelters filled with timber and wood have also been added to give small animals and bugs a place to live.

Additionally, at London Blackfriars, a Thameside flowerbed has been planted up with rosemary bushes, spring bulbs, and verbena seeds. This will make the south bank entrance more pleasant for passengers and create one ‘hum-dinger’ of a habitat for bees and insects.

Eloise Rowan, Govia Thameslink Railway Environment Specialist, said: “At GTR we’re committed to increasing biodiversity at our stations and installing nature homes is just one way we plan to support local wildlife.

“As part of our station improvement programme, we’ve completed more than 100 landscaping and rewilding projects in recent years and have installed 28 nature homes at stations. We hope insects make a bee-line for the installations!”

Dr Luke Dixon, Director at the Bee Friendly Trust said: “It’s been a real pleasure working with Thameslink on this project. Pollinators and other wildlife are a crucial part of our ecology and we need to make the most of railways, which provide corridors of biodiversity through our busy urban landscapes.”

GTR has promised to create, or enhance, 100 ‘homes for nature’ across its network – ranging from bug hotels to wild gardens.

The company, which runs services across 11 counties, is working with the Wildlife Trusts to identify, survey, monitor and improve sites for biodiversity, using qualified ecologists to survey and advise on improvement projects.

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Notes to editors

Last year, Thameslink unveiled a tiny train station especially for bugs at London Blackfriars to support more biodiversity. Read more here.

And in 2021, pollinator-friendly plants including lavender, sage, echinacea, verbena and sedums, attractive to bees and other insects, were also planted at the following stations:

• Norfolk: Downham Market
• Bedfordshire: Harlington, Flitwick, Sandy
• Hertfordshire: Elstree & Borehamwood, Royston, Welwyn North
• North London: Alexandra Palace, Bowes Park, Gordon Hill, Mill Hill Broadway, New Barnet, New Southgate, Palmers Green
• South London; Bellingham, Loughborough Junction, Ravensbourne, Wimbledon Chase
• East Sussex: Newhaven Harbour