A RAILWAY station is set to become a haven for local wildlife thanks to a community rail project.

The Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership have worked with residents, station adopter volunteers, the Essex Path to Prosperity Project, Community Rail Network, the Bee Friendly Trust and Greater Anglia to create a new wildlife area next to Wrabness rail station.

About a quarter of an acre of overgrown scrub land where the station master’s house once stood has been transformed into a wildlife and visitor-friendly garden.

It will be officially opened by station adopter Julia Prigg on Saturday with residents, guests and project partners in attendance.

The focus of the garden is to support and encourage wildlife and includes bug hotels, bird boxes - including two special robin boxes, a pond for frogs and a hibernaculum built for newts, lizards and toads.

Two large planters full of bee-friendly forage greet visitors at the front of the garden with a path leading to seats constructed from railway sleepers and on the stumps of ancient trees.

A third planter displays a collage of ceramic tiles created by residents of Mistley’s Acorn Village, a residential home for adults with learning disabilities, and there are specially commissioned artworks around the garden including metal sculptures, relief wooden carvings of bees, wooden sculptures and a large bird bath on decorated pedestal.

There is a herb bed by the entrance to the garden from which visitors, rail travellers and the community are encouraged to help themselves.

The entire area has been sown with native wildflower seeds which will establish themselves through the summer.

The Bee Friendly Trust involved pupils from Wix and Wrabness Primary School in the project.

Terri Ryland, Essex and South Suffolk CRP officer, said, “This has been a fantastic collaborative project and we are so excited for rail passengers and the community to come and see the wildlife garden and enjoy watching it develop over the coming months.

“We are very grateful to all the partners who made it possible with their generous support.”

Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said Wrabness station “has always been a jewel in the crown on the Mayflower Line” thanks to the care of volunteer station adopters.