The old railway station at Addiscombe, which closed in 1997

The Friends of Addiscombe Railway Park will be launched tomorrow, Saturday, March 12.

And they are looking for local residents to help make this group a success.Addiscombe Railway Park is Croydon’s newest open space. It was opened in 2007, with an extension added last year, and uses open space around some disused railway lines (hence the name).

The open space extends from East India Way to Dalmally Passage along the route of the former railway line. A cycle and footpath runs along the whole site through the natural vegetation which is regenerating following the development of the park.

The former railway bridge across Dalmally Passage has been demolished and the banks regraded to provide access to the top of the embankment and improve visibility for pedestrians walking from Morland to Dalmally Road.

More than 1,500 shrubs and young trees have been planted at the site by the British Trust for Nature Conservation and local volunteers. The park will be managed to develop a natural habitat for birds, wildlife and plants in the area. Old railway sleepers have been used for some of the signage at the site and other railway artefacts that have been found at the site will be restored and displayed in the park.

To get more locals involved in the upkeep of the park, there will be a walk from 2pm, starting at Dalmally Passage.

At 3pm the formal meeting will start, at the Addiscombe Baptist Church Hall, on the corner of Northway Road and Morland Road. At this meeting we hope to set up the steering group to help drive this campaign forward.

For more details or to contact the organisers, click here.

The aim of the group is to improve the park by:

• to make it more secure for users and neighbouring properties
• to make it more attractive for residents to use
• to help keep it clear of rubbish and graffiti
• to help plan improvements to the park
• to decide what extra trees and plants are needed, and to help plant them
• to act as the local community voice when talking to Croydon Council
• to involve local schools and school children in these activities
• to raise more income by applying for grants and lottery funding

If you are interested in helping out please email on addiscombe@croydonlabour.org.uk. The aim is to get a core group of at least eight people to help with the organisation and future events. Once the Friends Group is formally set up it will have its own contact details.