Members of the group have filled four new planters on platform one with bee friendly herbs and there are plans to brighten up platform two soon.
Signs to explain what the plants are and their uses will be put up next to the planters and commuters will be able to take a sprig of the various herbs to liven up their home cooking. The group has also had a new large poster, specially designed by Visit Dartmoor, to promote Ivybridge as a centre for walking and cycling, which is now on display at the station.
The planters and posters have been paid for using grants awarded to PL:21 from South West Water, Ivybridge Town Council, the local district councillors and Skipton Building Society.
The group hope that the additions to the station will not only make it a more inviting and attractive environment for commuters but the herbs are valuable to local insect life and might encourage people to consider growing some of their own herbs at home.
Tony Barber, PL:21 chair said: ‘PL:21 aims to help make Ivybridge a more sustainable community through a wide range of initiatives, such as encouraging people to grow their own food, developing natural habitats, promoting walking and cycling and encouraging the use of public transport.
‘Our recent work up at the station combines many of these interests and the small additions of the planters and poster will hopefully be noticed by local residents and visitors.’
PL:21 has lots of other ideas under development at the moment, including an electrical item repair event in association with Devon County Council and a sustainable transport forum to be held in October.
The PL:21 energy group is currently setting up a new community energy company called South Dartmoor Community Energy and PL:21 is currently in the middle of a series of weekly, free, local, led cycle rides in conjunction with Sustrans.
The group is made of of local residents who volunteer a little of their time to make things happen and anyone is welcome to get involved and to throw ideas into the mix.
For further information on PL:21’s projects visit www.pl21.weebly.com or e-mail [email protected].