Shortlands station community garden evolved from Shortlands Community Nature Trail Association which was wound up earlier this year because the area available, once the lifts had been installed, was about a third of the original plot. The area now available was suitable for a small community garden and the final decision of the Association was to make the money it had in the bank available for this project. A small group of people, including several members of Beckenham Rotary Club, with some financial support from Shortland Residents’ Association and Ravensbourne Resident’s Association plus donations of cash and materials from the public and Southeastern Railway, has been slowly developing the garden. Most, if not all, of the hard physical work has been done by Denise Janes at the station, who sees it as her last project before retirement from SouthEastern.. There are a few pictures below which show the garden taking shape. We are almost complete, a large mural, planters and hanging baskets along the approach to the lift, being the main task yet to do. However, we need to raise money for the ongoing maintenance. The proprietor of “Shotlands”, the coffee bar at the station, has set up a crowd funding account to help do this. This is his post on Just Giving: - "On October 5th 2025, I'll be taking part in Ironman Barcelona - consisting of a 3.9km swim, 180km bike and a 42.2km run (marathon) to finish it off. This is a personal challenge I set myself at the start of the year, and is also a great opportunity to raise money for a wonderful cause in the process. I first met Dee after opening a coffee shop in Shortlands train station, and she couldn't have been more welcoming and supportive from the moment we met. Dee is such a special woman who has done some incredible work for the Shortlands community and I want to support her in her final project - Dee's Community Garden." If you would like to contribute to the crowdfund for Shortlands community garden, please click here https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/danny-maguire-2?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL (fb)

The Rotary clubs in the South East District are organising a gala concert at Langley Park Boys school on 10 October. The clubs are Rotary Beckenham, Bromley, Bromley Game Changers, Chislehurst, Langley Park, Orpington Crofton, Orpington E-club and West Wickham. The funds raised will be distributed to the following charities: - St Christopher's Hospice, Bromley Youth Music Trust and Bromley Football Club Community Trust. Please join us for this important and enjoyable event. Full details in the flyer. (fb)