New community orchards have been planted at ScotRail stations in Cardross, Dumfries and Aberdour as part of a nationwide sustainability project.
The initiative, delivered in partnership with ScotRail and Thatchers Cider, is bringing apple trees into station spaces to support biodiversity and create more welcoming environments for passengers and local communities.
At each station, carefully selected apple varieties including Bramley, Scrumptious, Dabinett and Katy have been planted, chosen for their ability to thrive with minimal maintenance while enhancing the surrounding landscape.
The project forms part of the Thatchers Community Orchard scheme, now in its sixth year, which has already delivered more than 2,000 trees to community groups across the UK, including 500 in the past year alone.
By introducing orchards into everyday travel spaces, the aim is simple but effective, to reconnect people with nature in places they might otherwise pass through without a second thought.
It also reflects a broader shift in how public infrastructure is being used, not just as a functional network, but as a platform for environmental improvement and community engagement.
The partnership goes beyond planting trees, with Thatchers Cider products also available on board selected ScotRail services where food and drink are offered, linking the initiative back to the company’s roots in orchard growing.
Graeme Baillie, ScotRail Safety and Sustainability Director, said:
“This project highlights ScotRail’s commitment to making a positive impact in communities across the country.
“These new orchards will help create greener and more welcoming spaces for customers, while also supporting local wildlife and leaving a lasting, sustainable legacy for the communities we serve.”
Eleanor Thatcher, fifth generation cidermaker at Thatchers Cider, said:
“We’re surrounded by over 550 acres of orchards at Myrtle Farm.
“Spending time in them is something me and my family are lucky to enjoy, and we want to share that with others.
“By supporting ScotRail with their exciting community and sustainability work, we’ve been able to help apple trees take root in locations they never normally would.
“We hope the partnership and trees bring continued joy to both the people and wildlife of these unique stations across Scotland.”
While small in scale, projects like this quietly reshape how people experience public spaces, turning routine journeys into something a little more human and a little more connected to place.
And in a railway network that stretches across some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, that feels like a natural fit.
