First featured in 2010, Castleton Railway Station planters are still being expanded by the school children from five schools who create and tend the floral displays. Supported by the In Bloom team and Bowlee Garden Centre, and sponsored by Northern Rail, the children of Matthew Moss, St Edward’s, St Gabriel’s, Castleton and St John’s schools work goes from strength to strength. We also have to mention the Friends of Castleton Station and Rochdale’s Mayor who turn out to support the station planting.
Eco work has led to all the villages primary schools now have thriving gardening clubs and forest school activities. Three of the village’s schools took part in a joint project involving the Canal and Rivers Trust who funded months of collaborative projects. The project was called Tales from the Towpath and formed part of an entry into the British Waterways national awards of which the group were finalists. St Edwards, with the biggest polytunnel in any Rochdale school, is helping with some incredible aquatic plant conservation work.
