Kilmarnock station spruced up by gardening club

Sep 11 2009 by Stef Lach, Kilmarnock Standard

A GARDENING club has made Kilmarnock Station brighter than ever.

It follows a partnership with ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme, which has gone from strength to strength since being launched in September 2005.

The station platform now has 21 half-barrel planters with flowers and plants to greet customers with a burst of colour.

East Ayrshire Gardening Club carried out the work after MSP Willie Coffey suggested to ScotRail to approach its members to freshen up the previous floral displays.

Mr Coffey said: “I am delighted with the colourful results of the club’s ‘adoption’ of Kilmarnock Station. The station is set for an even brighter future with the new half-hourly train service to Glasgow starting this December.”

Brian Kirkwood, chairman of East Ayrshire Gardening Club, said: “We are pleased to adopt Kilmarnock Station and are grateful to station staff for their assistance in maintaining our displays.”

John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome East Ayrshire Gardening Club into our Adopt a Station scheme, and have funded brightening up the platforms and concourse at Kilmarnock.”

In addition to gardening schemes, initiatives range from spectacular murals, coffee shops, a second hand bookshop, a toy library, community meeting rooms and a model railway club room.