To mark National Gardening Week 2025, Arriva Rail London (ARL) is thrilled to announce the return of this year’s Overground in Bloom competition.

The annual gardening competition encourages employees and local communities to create and maintain gardens, transforming areas on the London Overground network into vibrant, eco-friendly spaces. This initiative has blossomed over the years into a true passion project across ARL, building a strong sense of community and connection between railways and the neighbourhoods they serve.

This year’s Overground in Bloom theme – Railway 200 – is particularly special as it marks 200 years since the birth of modern rail. Participants will celebrate the legacy of railways in imaginative and creative ways, from gardens inspired by the heritage colours of green and gold, to sculptures and plaques depicting the history of our stations.

Whilst this year’s theme looks back at our railway heritage, we are also excited to see the return of the forward-looking sustainability award category, which was introduced last year. This award recognises gardens that embrace all aspects of sustainability, including environment and social impact. Judges will be looking for displays which incorporate recycling, material reuse, bee friendly plants or bug hotels, as well as contributing to the local community.

The community engagement award will also celebrate displays created with strong local community involvement, including work with neighbouring schools and community-led groups, such as Energy Garden. Energy Garden has worked closely with ARL colleagues for several years to create and maintain gardens at locations across the London Overground network.

Participating stations are also judged on creativity and biodiversity, with a focus on long-term environmental benefits. The competition not only brightens the network but also supports local wildlife and inspires greener travel experiences for passengers.