FORTY NEW RESIDENTS FOR COMMUNITY NATURE PARK
Friday March 12, 2010
Around forty plants found a new home this week as Network Rail relocated vegetation from Airdrie station to the nearby Brownsburn Community Nature Park.
As work continues to reinstate the Airdrie-Bathgate rail line, the existing Airdrie station is seeing a large-scale upgrade to accommodate the new double tracked line and more facilities for passengers. The improved station is good news for the residents of Airdrie, but also meant existing plant life at the north side of the station had to be removed to make way for the works.
In order to save some of the plants, Dr Ann Glen, chair of the Monkland Glen Community Council and a rail enthusiast, approached Network Rail about the transfer of the vegetation to the popular community nature park.
Dr Glen said:
“It’s crucial work taking place at Airdrie station and we’re all delighted to see the upgrades taking shape. I approached Network Rail because some of the shrubs have been by the railway for around 20 years and by re-homing them, they will hopefully be enjoyed for at least another twenty years to come!
“I know that Network Rail have worked closely with environmental groups and it is wonderful to see them taking into consideration the plant life around the Airdrie station site. They have been very helpful throughout this process which is greatly appreciated by me, other residents and of course, visitors to Brownsburn Park.”
Hugh Wark, senior project manager for Network Rail said:
“With the help of our contractor BAM Nuttall, Network Rail is delighted to assist with Dr Glen’s request to move the forty plants from Airdrie station to a new plot at Brownsburn Community Nature Park.
“We look forward to the summertime when we’ll be able to see the plants flourishing in their new home.”
For further information on the reinstatement of the Airdrie Bathgate Rail Link Project, please visit our website on www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk.
The community get digging at Brownsburn Community Park, ready to re-home the shrubs from Airdrie station.
The re-planting task in progress. Around forty plants were taken from Airdrie station and re-planted.