Creating a Fossil Bed on the 'beach bed' at Hunmanby Railway Station

 

At the entrance to the Scarborough platform, the soil is very poor. This is because it is built on the remains of the old signal box and waiting room. (See link to the old photographs of Hunmanby Railway Station) 

When gardening it is easier to work with rather against nature. If you soil is poor, there are plenty of plants that will still thrive in low nutrient, dry conditions, and full sun. 

The 'beach bed' has been planted up to create a beach effect, it was the first to be developed. As these photographs show from a rather bleak March Day in 2008!

The ground has been prepared, 

    

The membrane has been laid, and the gardening club from Hunmanby school assisted by Hunmanby in Bloom are starting to move several tons of gravel to create the beach effect.

   

Tea Break, thanks to Karen & David, owners of the Station House in 2008.

Job done. Hunmanby Railway Station's first flower bed, since the late 1970's

The young people from Hunmanby School who were involved in the project, are now grown up, but 12 years on the hard work is still there being enjoyed by both local people and visitors. Now in 2020, the Beach Bed provides a contrast to the more 'cottage garden' long borders and formal flower tubs and baskets.

2020 Creating a fossil bed

A new feature that is now being started, with another generation of young people from the village is a fossil feature, near the rockery. John, from the Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station is making a wooden surround. School children in the village are keen to get involved and bring fossils to put in the display. On the local beaches 'devil's toenails are very common. Proper name Gryphaea, an extinct oyster.

 

 

Fossils can turn up in unusual places, the photo below was a fossil found when re-creating the long border on the Hull platform. (That became over grown in the 1970's) The chances are this was from an old steam engine, as early railways used ash and clinker to lay the track on.

 

 

The Fossil Box installed Summer 2020. Please bring along your fossils or painted stones to decorate the beach flower bed.

During the winter of 2020/2021, bug hotels were created by Year 4 young people from Hunmanby Primary School, link to the bug hotels web page

Updated 22.10.2021