Full steam ahead as Oaklands students help to transform Smallford Station

A project which has been well over a year in the making came to life last week, as Art Fashion & Design students at Oaklands College celebrated the history of Smallford Station & Alban Way but creating some eye-catching artistic murals for display. 

Oaklands students collaborated with the Smallford Station and Alban Way Heritage Society (SSAWHS) to help improve the environment and surrounding areas of the historic Smallford Station, a unique 156-year-old, Grade 2 listed building that used to serve the Hatfield and St Albans Railway.

The track-bed of which is now the Alban Way foot- and cycle-path is a busy area, with pedestrians using the route to travel around St Albans and the SSAWHS are hoping to raise a total of £5,000 to transform the area.

As well as Victorian-style benches and lampposts, raised flower beds, signs and information boards, the site will also house variety of poster boards showcasing the Level 2 Art and Design students’ work.

Jeff Lewis, Chair of the Smallford Station & Alban Way Heritage Society said: “One of the things I’ve been most looking forward to this Sunday, where we will be celebrating The History of Smallford Station is meeting up with some of your students – especially seeing their faces when they see their posters on display – and such large ones!”

Of the 20 competition entries, five Oaklands students were chosen as winners by a judging panel. Students had their work proudly displayed on the site for the Heritage Open Day last month and will eventually see them proudly on permanent display in coming months.

As well as the Art, Fashion and Design department, the Horticulture department at Oaklands will also be involved with the project, encouraging its students to gain hands-on experience providing flower beds and tidying up the overgrown shrubbery within the area.