TfL staff take laurels in gardening competition

Transport for London (TfL) staff are celebrating their gardening wins in the annual In Bloom competition.

This year's theme was sustainability, to coincide with the mayor of London's and TfL's commitment to help protect and improve the environment.

Over a few months, parts of the transport network were transformed into flourishing spaces, with colourful gardens of flowers, fruits, vegetables and air-purifying plants.

The over-a-century-old competition saw more than 60 entries this year.

'Bursting with colour'

South Tottenham Overground station won in the Cultivated Gardens category. TfL staff collaborated with local schools and pensioners to turn a blank embankment into a garden.

Green-fingered staff planted adaptable, sustainable and edible plants at Northwick Park Underground station, to show how to make the most out of small green spaces across the network. They won the Gardens of the Future award.

Upminster Depot, which won both the Best in Show and Best Newcomer awards, turned patch of disused space into a garden incorporating a seating area, a wildflower meadow and art on the portable buildings and office walls.

The Environment award was won by Ruislip Depot, where lawn chairs were converted into planters, which judges said brought vibrancy to the depot and created a welcoming workspace for colleagues.

'Unique and beautiful'

Emma Strain, TfL’s customer director, said: “London’s Tube and rail stations have been bursting with colour over the summer as our staff have been creating vibrant gardens.

"These not only brighten up local communities and customers' journeys every day, they help to tackle climate change."

The deputy mayor for transport Seb Dance said: “Climate change is a very real threat to all of us, and this year’s In Bloom competition had sustainability firmly at its core.

“The winners of In Bloom truly harnessed this message, creating unique and beautiful gardens which will brighten Londoners’ journeys while reminding us of the importance of looking after our planet and adapting to the effects of climate change.”