History of the Station Master's Community Wildlife Garden

Since May 2010, the Clarence and Waterford Crescent Residents Association committee, together with the local community situated around Whitley Bay Metro Station, have worked to develop a green sanctuary in the heart of the popular seaside resort of Whitley Bay for the community of Whitley Bay and their welcome visitors.

The Station Masters’ Community Wildlife Garden began when a group of local residents came together with Nexus (the Tyne and Wear Transport Authority) local police and counsellors to discuss the vision of turning a dilapidated space, reputed to attract degenerate crime, (though home to plantlife, slow worms, birds and bees and butterflies) into a community garden and natural habitat promoting biodiversity for all.

With dedication, incredibly hard work, commitment, and a multi-talented creative team, who benefited from much help from many knowledgeable people, the garden began to take shape. Applications for planning were eventually successful and a sincere funding bid to Community Spaces successfully procured the funds to enable environmental architects Alex Turner Environmental Consultants to design and create the first stages of the garden.

Early planning meant considering: protected species (slow-worms), unwanted virile knotweed, contaminated land, many tree preservation orders and a host of local hazards.

In June 2012, with the support of Nexus, we had permission to go ahead and worked quickly from there. The garden opened to the public on June 23rd 2013 with much funfair and celebration.