Southeastern is celebrating the five winners of its annual In Bloom competition, which has seen staff across the railway transform their stations, depots, and offices into vibrant, eco-friendly spaces.
Despite record-breaking summer heat, staff across the Southeastern network rose to the challenge, creating stunning displays using drought-resistant plants, recycled materials, and wildlife-friendly designs.
This includes Cannon Street, winner of Best North Station, which created two gardens in one of London’s most urban areas and Ashford Revenue, Crime and Enforcement team in Kent, where the team won the Most Innovative category for their work to improve biodiversity by using old pallets and recycled materials.
Victoria Raggio, Environmental Specialist at Southeastern, said:
“This summer was officially the warmest on record, and our teams faced real challenges with watering and plant survival. Yet they responded with thoughtful planting, clever use of recycled materials, and a strong focus on supporting pollinators and wildlife.
“We’re incredibly proud of how our colleagues have embraced sustainability and created spaces that not only look beautiful but also contribute to local ecosystems.”
Southeastern In Bloom is held annually, with teams awarded funding to cultivate gardens that improve the visual appeal of stations and depots, support biodiversity, and enhance the passenger experience. This year, a record-breaking 90 Southeastern sites took part.
Southeastern in Bloom winners:
Best North Station – Cannon Street Station
Cannon Street has worked hard to create two splendid gardens in a challenging urban environment.. Careful planting has been enhanced by the addition of a toy train and a wishing well made by a talented colleague using recycled wood—showcasing both creativity and sustainability.
Best South Station – Deal Station
Deal Station has once again produced an outstanding floral display, with a rich diversity of plants selected for year-round interest and pollinator support. The team also brought greenery indoors, adding thoughtful planting to the ticket hall to create a welcoming space for passengers.
Best Depot – Ramsgate Traincrew
At Ramsgate, the outdoor seating area has been transformed with additional planters, creating a more inviting space for colleagues. A striking railway mural, painted by a local artist, has turned this paved area into a vibrant focal point for the site.
Best Newcomer – Rochester Station
Several colleagues at Rochester worked hard to cultivate and maintain superb indoor and outdoor plants. Their careful plant choices—favouring pollinator-friendly species—have thrived, with many now becoming established in barrels that will offer year-round greenery for the station.
Most Innovative – Ashford Revenue, Crime & Enforcement Team
A truly talented team at Ashford created a biodiversity haven, using old pallets and recycled materials. Including, thoughtful planting, areas for insects, and a seating area where colleagues can take time out.
Southeastern in Bloom is just one part of Southeastern’s efforts to protect the environment through its Sustainability Strategy
This has seen the operator make strides in enhancing sustainability, including:
- Installing solar panels across three engineering depots to produce renewable energy.
- Diverting 99% waste from landfill.
- Launching a carbon footprint calculator on the Southeastern website and app, to help passengers become more aware of rail as a sustainable form of transport
- Partnering with the Kent Wildlife Trust to enable customers to donate to support the charity’s biodiversity work.
