Aug 2022
A special flower planter in the shape of a train has been installed at Keynsham station in memory of former Keynsham in Bloom Chair and community champion Denise James.
Denise became involved with Keynsham station in 2014 as was keen for the community to play a part in improving the area. Her tremendous enthusiasm brought people together for litter picks and gardening sessions and through sharing her horticultural talent and design flair, she supported Keynsham in Bloom members to create stunning floral displays, making the station a brighter and more welcoming gateway to the town.
Since Dee’s passing in 2019, the in-Bloom group have continued to tend the station garden and the memorial planter, designed and constructed by members of the Somerdale Shed and Community Garden group, is a permanent legacy to her contribution.
Heather Cullimore of Severnside Community Rail Partnership said “Denise was very passionate about improving the station environment and we wanted to create a something permanent in her memory. The local community have come together to support this and the Somerdale Shed have done a fantastic job at creating the train-shaped planter.”
Dawn Drury of Keynsham In Bloom said “This is a fantastic tribute to Denise, former Chair of Keynsham In Bloom. The station volunteer, In Bloom members are happy and proud to be able to tend the planting of the train, to provide a beautiful feature for local station users and visitors to enjoy and have as a permanent reminder of such a lovely lady.”
Matt Prosser from Somerdale Shed & Community Garden said ‘We were delighted to be asked to contribute to this lovely project and every one of our members had a hand in designing, making and painting the planters, which was great to see as it exemplifies the spirit of Keynsham’s community shed.’
