Volunteers who created nectar-rich moth garden at Shelford rail station win environmental award

Volunteers who created a nectar-rich moth garden at Shelford rail station, which releases night-time scents to sustain moths attracted by platform lights, have received an environment award.

Philip and Kathryn Ball received the Environment and Innovation award at Greater Anglia’s annual Station Adoption Awards ceremony.

They also leave woodpiles and leaves to support moth caterpillars and are growing species of flowers from seed at home to support different types of moth to plant in the garden.

Their detailed records of the impact are on show in the station. They have also installed a bee hotel and grow specialist varieties of bee-friendly plants.

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s customer and community engagement manager, said: “Our station adopters are real heroes who achieve amazing things to benefit their communities and make them better places to live with their enthusiasm to bring rural stations to life and restore their links to the communities they serve.

“The adopters know their stations and the needs of their community well and we are happy to support their aims through small grants and facilitating improvements.

“I am delighted that we can also recognise and thank them through the Adopter Awards - we’ve seen some fantastic and innovative projects this year and I would like to thank them all for their continued hard work.”

“What Philip and Kathryn are achieving at Shelford station, turning it into a local wildlife haven, is nothing short of amazing.”