Surrey – 26 October: For the past four years, the Aldingbourne Trust’s Adopt a Station team have worked together with Biwater International to create vibrant floral displays outside the Biwater House in Dorking, which they continue to grow and maintain every week come rain or shine.
The Aldingbourne Trust is a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities, and in 2007, they created the Adopt a Station programme, a horticultural team who plant and maintain floral displays, planters and window boxes at train stations across West Sussex. By being part of this programme, they have the opportunity to travel and work, and meet new people in the community. Today, they are responsible for 30 of Southern Railway’s stations and are still expanding, enhancing private and communal gardens as well as schools and local businesses.
Adopt a Station’s partnership was formed with Biwater in September 2014, when Simon Strudwick, Biwater’s Building Services Manager, spotted the Adopt a Station team at work one day at the neighbouring railway station in Dorking, and quickly enlisted them to re-vamp the plants and grounds at the Biwater House.
“We have been very pleased with our continued partnership with Adopt a Station. Over the years, we have received many positive comments from Biwater visitors and staff over the floral displays in front of the Biwater House. The Biwater staff have also enjoyed meeting with the Adopt a Station team members. It is clear the team are very enthusiastic about gardening and take tremendous pride in their work.” said Simon Strudwick.
Biwater is a global water engineering company that designs, builds, operates and maintains water facilities throughout the world. The company’s corporate responsibility strategy reflects its core values, and endeavours to support the communities in which it does business.
Biwater’s Executive Chairman, Sir Adrian White, met with the Adopt a Station team to thank them for their continued efforts. “The work that Adopt a Station have delivered over the years has consistently been excellent. Not only have Biwater enjoyed the floral presentation in front of the UK Head Office, but we are also very pleased to be supporting a charity that is focused on providing essential opportunities for its members. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Adopt a Station for many more years to come.”
For more information about the Adopt a Station team, please visit www.aldingbournetrust.co.uk and for more information about Biwater visit www.biwater.com
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Caption: Sir Adrian White, Biwater’s Executive Chairman, pictured alongside the Adopt a Station team. (Backrow) Roland Leask, Senior Lead of Adopt a Station, Ben Skeel, John Willett, Christian Turrell, Simon Strudwick, Biwater’s Building Services Manager. (Front row) Ellie Cooper, Laura Herniman, Kirstie Steyning, Sir Adrian White, Patti Bowles, Lead of Adopt a Station
Caption: Adopt a Station team members tending to their floral displays at the Biwater House in Dorking
Caption: The Biwater Aldingbourne Trust plaque, which has been on display at the Biwater House since September 2014 when the partnership was formed