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Passengers travelling through Manchester Piccadilly train station are set to benefit from the brand new exciting garden project which will bring colour and life to the station’s entrance.
From Monday, 2nd March travellers will see work underway on the new garden, as they approach the North West’s busiest train station.
The ‘Station Sanctuary’ project
Piccadilly community garden
The ‘Station Sanctuary’ project will see the grey, underused outdoor space evolve into a vibrant, biodiverse garden to welcome people and wildlife, just outside of the station.
The scheme has been created through an innovative partnership between Network Rail, the National Trust, Sow the City and Manchester action on Street Health (MASH).
It has also seen support from Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.
Garden to open in Spring 2026
The garden is due to open to the public in Spring 2026, for commuters, visitors and city residents to enjoy amongst the bustling Piccadilly station.
The space has been designed to offer a moment of calm and relaxation, with 40 modular rainwater planters, pillars, and seats that that will be made by local community groups and volunteers.
Women from Manchester action on Street Health
Women from MASH have also creatively contributed to some of the unique features within the space which they are very proud to display.
Through nature-led design and pollinator-friendly planting, the garden will enhance urban biodiversity, contributing to a healthier local urban ecosystem.
The garden will have information panels that will encourage visitors to explore the city’s other accessible green and blue spaces, as well as information on urban ecology.
Network Rail’s regeneration, Rebecca Foy
Rebecca Foy, Network Rail’s regeneration and placemaking specialist, said: “Manchester Piccadilly is both the welcome and farewell to our city, and through Station Sanctuary we’re shaping it to better reflect Manchester’s character and creativity.
“This project marks a new creative and collaborative approach for Network Rail. Together, we’re transforming an underused space into a greener, more colourful and more welcoming place where our passengers, visitors and local communities can relax and enjoy.”
National Trust urban senior programme manager, Natalie Daring
Natalie Daring, Greater Manchester urban senior programme manager at National Trust said: “We’re so proud to celebrate the opening of this beautiful new garden, which has been shaped by the creativity and voices of the women from MASH.
“It’s a real reflection of what’s possible when communities are supported”
“It’s a real reflection of what’s possible when communities are supported to make their brilliant ideas a reality.
“Here in Greater Manchester, the National Trust is working closely with local partners like Network Rail and Sow the City to connect people, nature and heritage in meaningful ways, and to understand and remove the barriers that too often stand in the way. This garden is a joyful example of that vision coming to life.”
Founder and CEO of Sow the City, Jon Ross
Jon Ross, the founder and chief executive at Sow the City said: “As a Manchester-based organisation, we are incredibly proud to be transforming Piccadilly Station into a vibrant, green oasis.
“This garden will reconnect people with nature in one of the busiest parts of the city, and show that even the most unexpected places can support biodiversity.”
MASH Charity
The charity MASH offers support to women who are involved in sex work and have experienced homelessness. Through participation in the Station Sanctuary project, women have come together to co-design and co-create the garden.
This initiative has inspired women to express their creativity and provides an opportunity to learn about nature and urban conservation.
Project engagement coordinator at MASH, Rachel Shore
Rachel Shore, project engagement coordinator at MASH, said: “The Station Sanctuary project engages women who are often marginalised, empowering them to connect together and collaborate creatively.
“Together, we feel proud to be using our skills to transform an underused site in the station area into a thriving, nature-rich space that embodies the vibrant spirit of our city. Alongside the plants and flowers, we hope to grow awareness around the importance of inclusive, welcoming spaces for everyone in the community”.
Women from MASH, said: “I feel that it’s important that we show we have skills and use them to make a safe place. From my homeless times around the station area, it’s a positive reflection that I can use my experiences for good.”
Details on how the public can get involved in tending and enjoying this unique urban oasis will be shared on the project partners’ websites as the opening date approaches.
Find more information here.
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