A rail trail with a difference

Did you know that there was once a railway linking Geraldton and Ajana?

While this railway has been long closed (since 1957), it now has a new lease on life thanks to a passionate community group in Northampton who have turned a section of it into a beautiful botanic walk.

Worth a visit: Northampton Botanic Line is a 400m long botanic garden along the old Geraldton to Ajana Railway. pic.twitter.com/9R5olhpdM6

— Jessica Stingemore (@J_Stingemore) August 28, 2016

Noeleen Drage, a founding member of the group said it took more than 3,000 registered volunteer hours and just as many unregistered hours to get the walk  to where it is today.

“Dedicated volunteers can get a lot done, and with the help of grants, we can achieve great things” she said.

Plantings along the 400m walk began in 2011 with species unique to our sandplain flora and grown from native seed collected locally.

As part of NACC’s Biodiversity Community Grants, the group were able to carry out minor upgrades to some of the old reticulation equipment installed in 2011 and to acquire new plants.

Last week, NACC Biodiversity Coordinator Jessica Stingemore joined the community of Northampton for a picnic fundraiser along the Botanic Line.

“The flowers were the stars of the show and the famous railway pies (with the secret recipe) were also a big hit!” said Jessica.

The Northampton Botanic Line is a community garden open to the public all year round. For more information contact the Northampton Visitor Centre on 9934 1488.