seeds of change

(All pics copyright Gail Coleshill)

Gail is one of the volunteer gardeners at Midsomer Norton and sent these excellent pictures of some of the flowers and plants that are now covering the site. Midsomer Norton always was famous for its floral displays and it's great that the tradition lives on. I know that some of the flowers around site have actually seeded year after year and can be traced all the way back to the original S&D! She's very pleased that things have been growing so well despite the lack of rain. Our own garden at home has bloomed well this year, with reseeded flowers from last year popping up in the most surprising places!

With the greenhouse also providing plants Midsomer Norton is set to surpass its 50s and 60s glories.

The built environment today is pretty ugly in many places. Even the network railways with their security fencing and utilitarian buildings have a lot to do to recover their previous aesthetic appeal - but I suspect beauty will reappear everywhere once the oil runs out. The private railways have their part to play in this, by making travel an attractive experience (which of course the roads and airlines will never do) they will encourage more and more people to abandon the old fashioned and ugly alternatives. All rail journeys should be a memorable experience and something that we all strive to do as much as possible. Of course the S&D has a huge head start in this because the built environment is so attractive but, even more, the scenery through which we run is amazing. The forgotten years have not really changed any of this, if anything has made us even more determined to make the S&D the finest line in England again.

astronomical

Summer 2007!

The astonomical flowerbeds are looking great despite the strange weather this summer. It's amazing what a sharp edge-trimmer and a wholesale qunatity of bedding plants can do in the way of transformation!

responsibilities again

As an increasingly visible part of the community in Midsomer Norton we're very aware that we have a responsibility to make the place look as nice as possible. This is work last year on the astronomical garden, very visible from Silver Street. This work is now taking place again, putting in bedding plants for a blaze of colour.



Soon the up platform will be resurfaced and will show off the signalbox to perfection. Once the greenhouse is rebuilt the whole site will almost be back to 1950s condition, a real asset for the town and the railway heritage community. Railway enthusiasts who have kept the memory of the line alive throughout the closure years deserve nothing but the best - the new S&D will lovingly recreate the old and consistently reflect the line in its heyday, the 1950s.



In a few years time track will once again grace this attractive unofficial footpath. We've worked closely with local people to ensure that where footpaths, even unofficial ones, have come into use along the trackbed that we put in a new right of way as close as possible to the original. We want people to enjoy the magnificent countryside that the S&D runs through on foot, bike and eventually by train. We also value the wildlife and wild flowers along the route, they are as much part of the scene as steam trains will be in the future. Our aim is to tread as lightly as possible on the land.



But our biggest responsibility is to future generations who will have to live in a rather harsher (if warmer!) world than us. Once road traffic vanishes the S&D, and many other lines throughout the country, will become essential traffic arteries, keeping the economy going (if no longer growing!) and protecting the environment by using sustainable fuel (wood and solar/wind/water generated electricity).

flowery MN

Midsomer Norton was always famous for its plants. The gazebo now has potted climbers in each corner - thanks to Amanda Mayes who can often be spotted with a watering can!



Whilst up in the meadow above the catering coach the wildflowers are starting to bloom. Midsomer Norton should be a blaze of colour over the next couple of months. Expect bees!

spring

The wild flowers planted last year are beginning to appear on the meadow in front of the pillbox. Another hot working day on the S&D today as this hottest and driest April on record slips into May.

greenhouse - stage one

The site of Midsomer Norton's famous greenhouse has been cleared, the first step in its rebuilding. The original foundations are still there but will need levelling off as there's been some slipping. And we already have a member willing to take on the task of restoring this iconic part of the station. Once rebuilt it will supply flowers for the gardens and hanging baskets and, hopefully, organic vegetables for the catering coach.

garden

Some shots from the up platform garden. Midsomer Norton was always famous for the quality of its flowers, both in the beds and in the hanging baskets. This is a tradition we fully intend to continue. The greenhouse will be rebuilt at some time in the future.



Brendan was a very young member of the Trust who sadly died last year. This plaque and garden will be a lasting memorial to him.

gardens ...

Midsomer Norton was always famous for its flowers and gardens - there was even a greenhouse on site, which will be rebuilt. Some of the flowers in the beds today have reseeded over the decades from the flowers in the pre-'closure' gardens. Now it's warming up a few volunteers are hard at work with the beds and hanging baskets.

astronomical garden 2006

Midsomer Norton South 22 May 2006

Bedding plants have arrived so the astronomical garden can get a touch of colour again. Dave, George, Doug and John stand around waiting for the plants to plant themselves. Although not as big as the original garden thanks to the 'modern' road works since closure, the shape is retained, giving a nice Pagan touch to the station area.