Morpeth Train Station

MORPETH ROTARY AND LIONS TIDY UP MORPETH STATION

A garden project was proposed in March 2021 for completion in 2022 at Morpeth Railway Station, with Rotary working jointly with the Lions. It was to be at an unpleasant looking area where the temporary ticket office had been, just to the left of the very small pickup point, by the station forecourt. Hugh Edmundson of Greater Morpeth Development Trust had £1000 from Northern Rail to do a tidy. Paul Crook, Michael Duffy and Kevin Dunlop of Rotary were to link with Chris Offord of Lions. It was agreed that raised beds would be best but would need some old wooden railway sleepers, top soil, gravel and plants. Lions and Rotary each allocated £300 to the project. A garden centre and Dungait were approached for support. The plan was to use low maintenance shrubs. Annual maintenance would be the responsibility of Rotary and Lions and was likely to cost around £100 a year. At the start there was a ragged piece of tarmac on a waste patch near a wall with some tired looking whinstone chippings and weeds. It was decided to get some clean chippings and have a pipe removed by Northern Rail. There was a lockable shed with some basic tools but no water. Railway sleepers were provided made of untreated Canadian cedar and were used to create two raised beds of 2.5 m x 1.9 m with some good top soil from Dungait. There was golden gravel for the surrounding area and a planting of small conifers, shrubs, evergreen perennials and spring, summer and autumn bulbs. The project was completed in June and as can be seen from the photos it has greatly enhanced the look of the station.