COMMUTERS travelling through Bicester North Station on Tuesday will have seen a team of gardeners in their gloves and wellies tackling the greenery.

The event was the first working party organised by the Friends of Bicester North Station community group, who rolled up their sleeves for a garden makeover.

Despite the icy temperatures and a brief flurry of snow, 21 volunteers turned up to help dig out weeds and prepare the gardens for future planting.

Eventually the 388sq m space will be replanted with a garden to provide year-round colour, a pathway and seating.

Bea Foster, of Friends of Bicester North Station, said: “It was so much fun to take on a new project and be part of the birth of a new group.

“Already we can see a difference and it has been fantastic to work with such a great bunch of people.

“I look forward to more sessions and seeing Bicester North station looking splendid and cared for.”

The Friends of Bicester North are also being supported with advice and materials from Bicester’s Wyevale Garden Centre and Burleys landscape gardeners.

Chiltern Railways customer service director, Alan Riley, said: “I am hugely appreciative to the Friends of Bicester North Station and other station friends groups for the work they do to maintain the gardens at station along our route.

"While the work at Bicester North has just begun, the area already looks much smarter and will no doubt be a place that the community can take pride in when it is complete."

If you would like to join a station friends group at your local station get in touch with adoptastation@chilternrailways.co.uk