COMMUTERS passing through Mount Florida railway station should have no trouble finding the ‘thyme’ – or the mint, or the rhubarb, or even the strawberries.

Thanks to a £2000 grant from the Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign, environmental community group Urban Roots is slowly transforming the city’s south side rail network, one station at a time.

The team – who won the overall and best environmental initiative titles at the 2014 awards – has ‘taken over’ Cathcart and Mount Florida railway stations as part of ScotRail’s Adopt-a-Station initiative.

And they have big plans to help passengers plant and prune their way to work and back again.

Market gardener Colin Myles, 48, who has been a member of the group for two years, explains: “We set up planters on the station platforms, and the idea is to get people growing things like strawberries, rhubarb and salad vegetables which they can then harvest and take to work and have in their sandwiches for lunch.”

Former newspaper printer Colin, who is from Maryhill, adds: “Already we have had a great response to the mini-garden at Mount Florida, with people commenting on how great the platforms look.”

Volunteer Nicky Haston was working in waitressing when she spotted Colin hard at work on the station platform.

“I thought it looked like a brilliant project to get involved in, so I did and thanks to Urban Roots, completed a garden course,” explains the 28-year-old, who lives in Mount Florida.

“Now I’ve changed my job and am working on a community garden.”

She smiles: “We’ve had a lot of good comments from people passing by – even the conductors and drivers get involved and compare notes.”

As well as the two large planters, a herb train contains everything from mint, rosemary and chives to thyme and sage.

“Kids love it, which is great – we’re trying to sow the seeds of interest and make people think about what they eat,” says Colin.

“I love the idea of ‘edible stations’ with something different in each one.”

The group also plans to organise ‘flower flingers’ workshops, as Colin explains.

“We teach kids how to make little seed balls of bee and butterfly-friendly flowers, in line with ScotRail’s Biodiversity Policy and our own ethos,” he says.

“They can then take them home and ‘fling’ them at vacant, unused or derelict land.”

Elaine Bell, ScotRail’s head of corporate social responsibility, said: “We’re delighted with the mini-garden at Mount Florida - which has complemented the station since its refurbishment two years ago - and it’s great to see it becoming increasingly popular with passengers.

“Not only does it look great but customers are welcome to pick fruit, vegetables and herbs from the garden, making it a real asset for the local community.”

Colin agrees.

“It's really great that we have been given an Evening Times Streets Ahead grant as it will help us develop our plans,” he adds.

“This will make such a big difference to us, and allow us to set up workshops, spreading the message of biodiversity and encouraging people to get involved in brightening up their communities.”

The fifth Evening Times Streets Ahead awards, hosted by Glasgow City Council and supported by campaign partners ScotRail, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and City Charitable Trust, will take place on June 15 at the People’s Palace Winter Gardens.

The awards give us the chance to turn the spotlight on those individuals and groups really making a difference to our streets, parks, gardens and communities all over the city

We will be awarding eight prizes, including an overall winner, on the night. There will be trophies for the best garden, best clean-up campaign, best community garden, best community initiative, Glasgow City Council environmental initiative, Glasgow City Council Green Business Award, and a schools award.