Jul 2024
Did you know Portway Park and Ride station isn’t just a fantastic integrated transport hub, it’s also a haven for wildlife. Hidden away below the tracks is a specially designed underground newt crossing to protect a population of great crested newts. With help from Severnside Community Rail Partnership and Platform rail education scheme, Students from Oasis Academy Temple Quarter have been learning all about this, and have created pictures of newts to brighten up the station.
The project began with a workshop focused on the environmental impact of constructing the new station and about the measures taken to protect the local great crested newt population, a species safeguarded by UK law. Students then set about creating collages of newts, taking inspiration from Antoni Gaudi’s iconic mosaic art. Thanks to funding from GWR, CrossCountry Trains and Community Rail Network, all 60 collages have been reproduced and installed along the railings at Portway Park and Ride station, greeting passengers with a bright and cheerful display.
The artwork was celebrated at a special launch event on 22nd July when students took special trip by train from Bristol Temple Meads to view their creations.
A school art reveal and train journey from Bristol Temple Meads to Portway Park and Ride, captured July 22nd 2024.
Safety, confidence, and responsibility in using the rail network are essential for these students using trains to get to school at their temporary building on Spring Street and when they move to their permanent school building on Silverthorne Lane, forecasted to open in 2026 which will be adjacent to Bristol Temple Meads station.
This project has been focused on these important values while fostering a sense of community and environmental stewardship.
Heather Cullimore, Manager of Severnside Community Rail Partnership said: “We watched the construction of Portway Park and Ride with interest and were impressed by the care taken to ensure the protection of wildlife habitats. This project has been a wonderful opportunity to support Oasis Academy Temple Quarter students to become safe and confident rail passengers and for them to learn about the measures taken to protect wildlife and create ecosystems around the local rail network”.
Mr Richard James, Head of School for Oasis Academy Temple Quarter said: “Having our students take part in this exciting project promoting the underground newt crossing at the new Portway Park and Ride station is a great honour. It has been fantastic to see our students learn about the ecological importance of great crested newts and use their creativity to highlight the significance of protecting this species.”
GWR Flagship Station Manager Alex Hills said: “We’re delighted to support this project and it’s wonderful to see the students’ artwork on display at Portway Park and Ride. It’s brilliant that the pupils have been learning about the importance of safeguarding the newt population, while also increasing their safety and confidence in travelling by train.”
CrossCountry’s Regional Director, Bethan Jelfs, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to support these students learn more about the wildlife around Portway station. The railway is so much more than just a place to travel from, and these collages bring to life a key a key part of the local community.”
Jenni Jones, community rail support officer at Community Rail Network, said: “We are delighted to have been able to contribute funding towards this exciting project, which shows how with a little creativity, a railway station can be so much more than a place to simply catch the train. The community rail movement plays a vital role in developing stations as green spaces, where wildlife and nature are encouraged to thrive. These fantastic newt crossings and accompanying artwork are a great example of how our members strive to brighten up stations, as well as support our rail network to be even more environmentally friendly.”
