Vale of Rheidol Volunteers By Clive Higgs, Railway Volunteer
After covid restrictions eased, the volunteers worked hard outside, getting the gardens ready before the first trains on May 24th. ‘Socially distanced’, we became a bit anti-social, chatting by shouting to each other. The May nights were too frosty to plant geraniums, but there was a lot of weeding and deadheading of the daffodil and tulip flowers at all the stations. The weeding of the Aberystwyth car park garden plots was exciting. A family of lesser blackbacked gulls had set up a nest under a bush in the centre of the park. One of the parents fiercely stood on the roof of any nearby car and dived at anyone approaching the area. The volunteers weeded around there by crawling slowly behind the bush, horizontally hoeing the weeds while trying to look dignified. After May 24th, mystified customers arrived, but stood upright and were soon distracted by The Gull. This year the railway bought salvias, bidens, sanvitalias and geraniums from Greenacre Nursery at Ynyslas. The geranium flowers were very large, colourful and prolific - their best display ever. We planted at the platforms of Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge first as these were the only platforms used by the passengers this year. Wearing face masks, we timed the planting after a train had left. It was quite difficult to shout to each other in a clear and friendly way while wearing face masks, especially if discussing sanvitalias and salvias. Then the other stations. These were deserted so we added compost and planted without masks, enjoying the sunshine and the breeze. Maureen and John planted at Aberffrwd and maintained the garden, tubs and troughs there over the summer and autumn. At Nantyronen the 25 boxes of faded daffodil and tulip plants were removed for summer storage whilst the 25 boxes of geranium plants stored in the carriage shed at Capel Bangor were brought Page 20
out into daylight. Many had not fared well over winter and were replaced by the thriving new plants. At Capel Bangor, geraniums were planted in the troughs and tubs with salvias also planted in some tubs and in the fire bucket. Bedding plants were planted in the garden next to the station. During the summer the covid restrictions eased and we took a lift in a booked train compartment to Rhiw Fron Halt. There, we enjoyed an intensive session weeding brambles, nettles and other floral trespassers at the most spectacular train stop. The train returned from Devil’s Bridge just as we finished. The weather varied a lot over the summer and there were bouts of watering, weeding and deadheading during droughts and rain periods. There was one exposed corner of the garden at Capel Bangor where the bidens barely survived despite daily watering. It was the place longest exposed to the sun and most exposed to the warm wind. Everywhere else the plants thrived except next to the tables at Devil’s Bridge. Compost had been put onto the stony ground, but the roots of the large tree nearby had absorbed nearly all the moisture from the ground. We added water and dug in more plants, helped by chickens who had crossed the road to get to the other side! They feasted on worms and bugs escaping our trowels.
