A local landscaping company has provided the finishing touches to a refurbishment of Brighouse Station which began in June this year.

George William Landscapes transformed two overgrown areas at the entrance to the station car park over two days last week.

The landscaping formed an end to a wider refurbishment of the station – which was carried out by Colt Construction – which has introduced a host of improvements including the addition of CCTV cameras, repainting, and the installation of electronic arrival and departure screens.

The two overgrown areas, which sat on either side of the car park entrance off Birds Royd Lane, were full of overgrown foliage and on uneven ground.

New planters have been installed at the car park entrance to Brighouse Station. Pictured chairman Paul Marshall with Friends of Brighouse Station members.

placeholder image — New planters have been installed at the car park entrance to Brighouse Station. Pictured chairman Paul Marshall with Friends of Brighouse Station members.

Now, the hedges have been cut down close to the ground, wooden planters installed, the ground levelled, and plants including thyme and lavender put in.

Paul Marshall, Friends of Brighouse Station Chairman, said not only should the plants give off a nice scent, but reducing the height of the plants will improve people’s sense of safety by allowing pedestrians to see over the top of them and improving visibility into the car park from the road.

When the newly landscaped areas begin to grow next year, the Friends group will maintain the plants and keep their height down.

The group – which now has around 60 members – has looked after the station’s planters and plant beds for around 10 years, and celebrated the station’s 25th anniversary in May this year.

(Left) The improved area at the entrance to Brighouse Station car park. The area was overgrown (right) , uneven, and tall hedges prevented pedestrians seeing in and out of the car park.

In 2023, the group unveiled its Climate Change Garden – a long plant bed at the end of platform 2 – which contains self-sufficient plants to reduce the time, water, and labour needed to maintain it.

In September, the group told the Courier how it was managing to maintain the station plants in the face of a drought and a hosepipe ban.

The station’s refurbishment took place between June and August this year, and included repainting, installing CCTV and floodlighting, installing up-to-date electronic train time arrival and departure screens, repainting and repairing steps, ramps and railings, and redesigning the car park and painting yellow lines for both platforms.

Space was also made for rail replacement buses which have been using the station while Huddersfield Station is refurbished.