The historic Railway Nursery at Poppleton Station in York was established in 1941 by the London and North Eastern Railway to provide plants and floral displays for railway stations. It also grew vegetables for the railway hotels and refreshment rooms during the Second World War. Later, it grew plants for station gardens, landscaping schemes, and displays for special occasions (including providing a red carpet for Royal visits) at stations across the East of England.
The nursery closed in 2006 and the Poppleton Community Railway Nursery – a voluntary group – was set up with a lease from Network Rail. The main aim is to renovate the unique and historic buildings, greenhouses and the narrow gauge railway, preserving all to provide a valuable resource for the community for years to come. Entirely run by volunteers, the nursery became a registered charity in 2012.
The charity manages a working nursery, selling the plants it grows to the general public, to local railway stations and other organisations across the region. All profits are reinvested into the regeneration of the nursery. Some volunteers have become Poppleton Station Adopters, responsible for planting, watering, and weeding the flower beds and planters and keeping an eye on the station generally, working in conjunction with Northern Rail, who operate the station.
Additionally, the nursery has a very important partnership with health agencies in the York area, providing a range of therapeutic activities for people recovering from physical and mental health issues in a safe and welcoming place.
A selection of perennials, herbs, alpines and autumn bedding plants and shrubs will be on sale. Visitors can enjoy tea, coffee and homemade cakes in our garden. Explore our bric-a-brac, books (including railway books), and crafts stalls.
The Nursery Narrow Gauge Railway (2 foot gauge) which runs around most of the site, and our railway museum (with a model railway of the site) will be open for viewing.
Free entry!