The station is getting a mini-makeover from a really lovely group of young volunteers, who arrived this morning for an initial recce. It’s part of National Citizen Service, managed in this area by Brighton & Hove Albion football club in collaboration with Southern Railway. They’ll be working in and around the station next week 18-22 August.

Following on a suggestion from Southern’s local maintenance team, their main project is sprucing up the unprepossessing (make that ‘depressing’) underpass. The idea is to create a set of panels to decorate the walls, probably using tile mosaic, with themes associated with the station.

They loved the garden, enjoyed the raspberries, tried lovage leaves and shared quite a bit of knowledge of growing, acquired in family gardens and allotments. Some were interested in helping in the garden and when not designing the panels, there may be sweeping, cleaning, shifting compost and painting. Walking around the station forecourt, they also noticed the puny plastic edging around the tree pits and have gone away to see whether they can come up with some sturdier wooden edging for us. Hooray!

And since we quickly established that we all love a (tea) party, we’re all going to get together for another local cakes-and-drinks-fest at the station on Friday 22nd 3pm to 4.30 or so. Put the date in your diary now and come along to see their creations!