Station project plants trees at expanded reserve

More than 18,000 trees, plants and shrubs will be planted at a nature reserve beside a city's latest railway station.

Cambridge South station, at Francis Crick Avenue at the city's Biomedical Campus, is due to open in early 2026.

As part of the project's target to meet 10% net gain in biodiversity, 22,000 sq m (237,000 sq ft) of arable land was purchased to expand nearby Hobson's Park reserve.

Network Rail's Emma Sharpe said it would also "deliver a better environment for wildlife and expand the nature reserve for the enjoyment of the local community".

The planting includes native broadleaf trees and shrubs, hedgerows and grassland, and a storm water basin will be provided for endangered species such as water voles.

The station building will include a green roof - a wildflower meadow environment - and a rainwater catchment system to store rainwater, which will slowly discharge it back into the nearby brook.

Electricity will be generated by 1,400 sq m (4,600 sq ft) of solar panels installed on its roof.

Cambridge South will be the city's third railway station and is aimed at boosting links to the growing science and healthcare sector in the area around Addenbrooke's Hospital.

A £40m project to upgrade the railway infrastructure around the station was completed in May.

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