Angmering station gardeners welcome water butt donation

The Friends of Angmering Station are proud of their green credentials and the water butt will mean they can avoid using tap water as much as possible.

It also means there is less need to carry watering cans over the footbridge from the facilities on the eastbound platform to the gardens on the opposite side.

Deirdre Carolin, chairman, said: “We’re delighted our request for rainwater harvesting has come to fruition and it will make a huge difference in the summer to enable us to further develop our garden. It’s very much in line with our ethos of sustainable and environmentally friendly gardening.”

The water butt was donated by Southern Water and installed thanks to funding from Govia Thameslink Railway’s Passenger Benefit Fund.

Jason Brooker, GTR’s head of environment, said: “This is more than just installing a water butt, it means we can recycle our rainwater and ensure there is water available for the wonderful natural garden at Angmering.

“It’s small changes that can make a big difference. Alongside water availability, supporting biodiversity and protecting natural capital are key guiding principles in our wider environment strategy.”

Many avenues were explored in the ongoing quest to find a way to harvest rainwater at Angmering station.

Rowena Tyler, from the Sussex Community Rail Partnership, said: “We were extremely fortunate last year to be introduced to Ben Earl, water efficiency manager at Southern Water, and after a site visit, which included Dave Waldock, GTR property team manager, things started to move quite quickly.”

A suitable site was identified, so the water butt would be neat and unobtrusive water butt.

Ben said: “Saving water is absolutely essential for all of us, so anything we can do to encourage people to do so, whether that be in their homes, at work or at public places like stations, is truly worthwhile.”