A new 'long border' space has been completed at the site of Crewe town centre's historic railway cottages, following recent extensive improvement works.

The development was officially unveiled by The Railway Cottages Residents' Association in Crewe this March.

The railway cottages, off Chester Street, were built in 1845 by John Cunningham as part of John Lockes' original layout for the Grand Junction Railway Company.

Chair of The Railway Cottages Residents' Association in Crewe, Kevin Edwards (Crewe Town Council).

The border was initially established in 1978 when the railway cottages were renovated.

Support for the project was provided by construction and development company Bowmer & Kirkland, who provided staff, contractors and equipment to clear and rotavate the land.

Bowmer & Kirkland, who are working on Crewe's new bus station, also donated plants, seeds and railway sleepers which will form raised beds for planting.

The long border has been divided into seven distinct areas:

• Two areas with railway sleeper raised beds
• Two cottage gardens
• An area with native hedgerow planting
• Two areas with woodland planting

The long border at Crewe's railway cottages before its redevelopment (Crewe Town Council).

A buffer area on either end of the border contains supplementary native planting.

There will also be some bird and bat boxes, provided by Men in Sheds, which will complement an existing bug hotel.

The planting scheme was developed for the border by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, using ideas generated from the residents.

It is designed to attract birds and insects and solely uses native plants within the woodland, hedgerow and cottage garden areas. 

1,000 plants have already been planted on the land and seeds have been scattered.

The railway cottages, off Chester Street, were built in 1845 by John Cunningham as part of John Lockes' original layout for the Grand Junction Railway Company (Crewe Town Council).

Chair of the resident association, Kevin Edwards, said: "We would like to express our grateful thanks to residents, Bowmer & Kirkland, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Men in Sheds and Crewe Town Council.

"We are looking forward to seeing the area flourish and become a space that residents can enjoy."

READ MORE: Men arrested following 'disturbance' incident involving weapons at Crewe property.

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