© Bernice Mulenga, courtesy of the National Trust

Arriva Rail London (ARL) colleagues have been celebrated in the National Trust’s In Bloom exhibition, a collaboration between the conservation charity, Transport for London (TfL) and art gallery Seed 130.

Running until October 2025, the exhibition honours the station gardens nurtured by employees, volunteers and local communities across the capital. Several winners of TfL’s 2024 In Bloom competition feature, including ARL’s Azaz Khan and Ray McDonagh.

Station assistants Azaz and Ray have worked tirelessly to convert a large area of waste land at South Tottenham London Overground station into an oasis, with constantly changing and evolving displays of flowers and beds for vegetables throughout the year. The work on the garden has evolved into several projects with the local community, opening up new relationships and changing attitudes.

At the heart of the exhibition is a striking new series of portraits by British-Congolese artist Bernice Mulenga, commissioned by the National Trust. Their work captures the winners of the 2024 In Bloom competition – including South Tottenham station, which proudly took home the ‘Cultivated Gardens’ award.

Ray with the portrait of him and Azaz by Bernice Mulenga, at the In Bloom exhibition

Ray said: “It is fantastic to be recognised by an organisation outside the company, like the National Trust, for all the hard work over the last four years to change the perception of the station.” Azaz added: “I feel honoured and excited by this wonderful recognition, and proud that the National Trust choose our station garden to be a part of their exhibition.”

Alongside these contemporary works are rarely seen archival photographs from the London Transport Museum, showcasing the rich legacy of the annual In Bloom competition, which has its roots in a tradition that goes back to the beginning of the 20^th century.

The exhibition space will also host workshops for local school children and public events focused on gardening, creativity and environmental stewardship.

In Bloom is open at Seed 130 from Friday, 1 August to Wednesday, 1 October, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 12–7pm. Admission is free.