Arriva Rail London (ARL) has confirmed the return of Overground in Bloom, its annual station-gardening competition timed to coincide with National Gardening Week 2025. Designed to strengthen ties between the London Overground and the communities it serves, the programme encourages employees, volunteers and partner organisations to convert under-used corners of the network into high-impact green spaces that welcome passengers and support biodiversity.
Railway 200: Theme for 2025
This year’s theme, “Railway 200,” commemorates the bicentenary of the world’s first recognised public railway, highlighting the enduring role of rail transport in the United Kingdom’s social and economic development. Entrants are invited to reference two centuries of railway heritage through colour palettes, interpretive signage or heritage-style plantings in green and gold—the livery traditionally associated with early British railways. Judges will also welcome installations such as sculptures, plaques or educational displays that tell individual station stories.
Building on Sustainability
Following its successful introduction last year, the sustainability award returns with extended criteria that score projects on environmental performance and social impact. Points will be allocated for the creative reuse of materials, incorporation of pollinator-friendly species, water conservation measures and initiatives that bring lasting benefit to the surrounding community—such as school partnerships or produce-sharing schemes.
Community Engagement in Focus
ARL continues to prioritise community involvement, offering a dedicated award for stations that collaborate with local schools, charities and social enterprises. Energy Garden, ARL’s long-standing partner in community rail horticulture, will again mentor and support entrants seeking to combine renewable-energy micro-projects with horticultural improvements.
Judging and Impact
Displays will be assessed on creativity, biodiversity, maintenance standards and alignment with the Railway 200 theme. Beyond the competition itself, ARL notes that previous winning gardens have increased station footfall satisfaction scores, encouraged modal shift for short local journeys and provided habitat corridors for urban wildlife such as bees, butterflies and songbirds.
Why It Matters for the Industry
With Network Rail and the Department for Transport both stressing the importance of modal shift and biodiversity net gain, Overground in Bloom demonstrates how a passenger operator can meet corporate sustainability goals while enhancing customer experience. For specialist observers, the programme offers a compact case study in integrating railway heritage, community rail principles and environmental stewardship on a dense urban network.
