Each month I volunteer as part of the Swansea Station Adopters group at Swansea Railway Station. As one of the Swansea Station Adopters, I help care for the station planters and keep the platforms looking welcoming for passengers.
It’s a simple but rewarding way to contribute to the local community. At the same time, it helps make the station a brighter and more welcoming space for everyone passing through.
The station adoption programme is supported by Transport for Wales and the South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership. Together, they encourage volunteers to take pride in their local stations. As a result, platforms across the region benefit from colourful displays and well-maintained planters.
You can learn more about the work of Transport for Wales and their community initiatives on their website:
https://tfw.wales
More information about local community rail partnerships can also be found through the South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership: https://www.southwestwalesconnected.org.uk
About the Station Adoption Programme
The Swansea Station Adopters programme is part of a wider community rail initiative across Wales and the UK. Local volunteers help care for railway stations by maintaining planters, supporting biodiversity, and keeping platforms welcoming for passengers.
With support from Transport for Wales and community rail partnerships, station adopters help strengthen the connection between local communities and their railway stations.
The wider community rail movement across Britain is supported by organisations such as Community Rail Network, which promotes partnerships between railways and local communities: https://communityrail.org.uk
Looking After the Planters
As part of the Swansea Station Adopters group, my volunteering mainly focuses on maintaining the station’s planters. Each visit involves a range of simple tasks. For example, we clear disposed rubbish, cut back dead foliage, and remove weeds.
We also prepare the beds for seasonal planting. Although the work takes place in all kinds of weather, it is always rewarding to see the planters looking tidy again.
March is an especially exciting time. As winter fades, the planters begin to come back to life. Bright yellow Daffodil flowers start to appear just in time for St David’s Day.
Meanwhile, newly planted Carnation flowers add fresh colour to the platforms. As the flowers grow, they also attract bees and other pollinators.
A Community Effort
The Swansea Station Adopters initiative is very much a community effort. Volunteers work together to maintain floral displays and tidy green spaces. In addition, they report issues such as graffiti or litter when they notice them.
Support from Transport for Wales helps make this possible. For instance, volunteers may receive compost, plants, or tools to support their work.
Across South West Wales, many stations benefit from similar initiatives. A good example is Gowerton Railway Station. There, volunteers have maintained the station and enhanced biodiversity for more than fifteen years.
Making Stations More Welcoming
The aim of the station adoption programme is simple. It helps railway stations feel more connected to their communities. Through partnerships with the South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership, volunteers help transform everyday travel spaces.
Recently, the partnership shared updates about the work taking place at Swansea. Volunteers had been clearing the planters and preparing them for spring planting. As the warmer and longer days arrive, the platforms gradually fill with colour.
Small Actions, Big Difference
Being part of the Swansea Station Adopters group may seem like a small contribution. However, it has a visible impact. A tidy planter or a patch of bright flowers can make a station feel cared for and inviting.
For me, it is a chance to give something back to the community. It is also satisfying to see the station change with the seasons.
So, if you are passing through Swansea Railway Station, take a moment to look at the planters on the platform. They are the result of Swansea Station Adopters working together to make the journey a little more colourful.