Artist builds tiny train station for bugs at Blackfriars to celebrate biodiversity

Part of a living art installation, rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) commissioned Alice McCabe to construct the piece to celebrate spring and encourage customers and local communities to support wildlife in their gardens and local areas.

Situated at GTR’s most sustainable station, the floral installation contains colourful bulbs and blossom, mixed with dried elements and shade-loving plants that draw attention to often overlooked and disregarded spaces.

GTR head of environment Jason Brooker said: “This living art installation is a visual reminder about the little things we can all do to help the planet. Rather than cutting back wildflowers and nettles, we should consider the wildlife that these plants help to support, such as bumblebees, caterpillars, butterflies and moths.

“This is something we’re actively changing at GTR to ensure the maintenance of our stations is balanced with supporting wildlife.

“Over the coming year, we’ll be looking to increase biodiversity at specific sites and we’ll be sharing guidance and expertise with our station partners and communities so the work can be mirrored across our entire network. We hope the new Bug Station at Blackfriars will encourage people to get creative in their own gardens and outside spaces.”

The bug station with a view of the River Thames

Commonly thought of as nuisance species, plants such as nettles, brambles and dandelions have purposely been made a key feature in the design, highlighting their importance to biodiversity. A single nettle patch can support over 40 species of insects, whilst dandelions can supply food to a number of pollinators including bees, butterflies and hover flies.

The floral installation acts as a gateway to spring, GTR said, framing the impressive station view of London. Featuring seasonal plants and flowers, as well as a home for bugs, the installation mirrors eco-friendly projects that are being carried out at station gardens across the GTR network.

As part of its station improvement programme, the rail operator has completed more than 100 landscaping and rewilding projects in recent years, including introducing bee and bug hotels to outdoor spaces.

Working with the London Wildlife Trust Consultancy to carry out ecological surveys at specific sites this year, GTR will now be monitoring and enhancing biodiversity across its network.

London Wildlife Trust Consultancy head David Mooney said: “There are lots of simple things people can do at home to encourage and support wildlife, such as building log piles to attract bugs and beetles, installing bird and bat boxes, or growing a patch of wildflowers.

“We’re delighted that GTR is passionate about biodiversity and encouraging their passengers to get involved.”

To help customers planting their own flowers, GTR is also handing out free seed packets at selected stations. Containing wildflowers such as Meadow Buttercup, Sorrel and Red Campion, the biodegradable packets will be available at Blackfriars, Crofton Park, Welwyn Garden City, Salfords and Gipsy Hill train stations from today.

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