Students to transform Oxford Parkway, thanks to funding from Chiltern Railways
Students are set to transform Oxford Parkway Station’s green space into a garden with fruit trees and benches, thanks to funding from Chiltern Railways.
Students of Activate Learning - an education group based in Oxford – will create a cleaner, more welcoming outdoor environment in partnership with Blenheim Palace.
An event was held this week (Monday 09 March) to celebrate the start of the project and the new station adopters at Oxford Parkway who will significantly enhance the station.
The project is being funded by Chiltern Railways’ Community Investment Fund, which focuses on promoting sustainable, accessible travel and improving station environments.
Michael Stewart, Commercial and Customer Strategy Director at Chiltern Railways, said:
“Community work is crucial for the railway, our local areas and customers who travel through our stations every day.
“I am delighted that our partnership with Activate Learning will ensure students from the region gain valuable experience enhancing Oxford Parkway and the vital work on the station’s green areas will be viewed by our customers for many years to come.”
Gary Headland, CEO at Activate Learning, said:
"We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Chiltern Railways on this transformative project at Oxford Parkway station.
“This student-led transformation of the station's green space into a welcoming garden is a perfect example of how we create meaningful, real-world opportunities for young people at Activate Learning.
“With expert guidance from Blenheim Palace, our learners will have the opportunity to work hands-on with plants, landscaping and environmental design, while developing valuable independence and travel skills during this sustainable project.
“We’re excited to see our students grow in confidence as they help transform Oxford Parkway into an oasis of calm that benefits both passengers and the wider community.”
Tina Castle, Group Learning Company Manager at Activate Learning, and Project Lead, said:
"I'm thrilled to be leading this important project at Oxford Parkway station. Learners with SEND, who often face limited opportunities, have and will continue to gain meaningful real-world experience in a supportive and inclusive environment.
“This hands-on involvement will help them build confidence, independence, communication and employability skills - equipping them with practical tools and self-belief that can open doors to further training, work, and greater participation in their community."
Find out more about Chiltern Railways’ Community Investment Fund here.
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Notes to editors
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing around 36,200 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries.
- Chiltern operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services to Stourbridge Junction.
- Chiltern also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (with some trains terminating at Aylesbury Vale Parkway instead), on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.