The business name WN6 Creative Design comes from the post code where the business is based, a village called Standish, Near Wigan with a population of about 17,000.

As Wigan was one of the hubs of the Industrial Revolution its surrounding villages soon became involved, Standish was no exception feeding Wigan with Coal And Minerals on a regular basis.  The requirement to deliver coal soon spawned the need for a swifter form of transport and a ‘narrow gauge’ railway was built to link Standish with Wigan.  This became known as The Standish Mineral Line.

Fast forward many years to 2007, David Rourke the owner of WN6 Creative Design decided that the now derelict railway line, should be cared for and given a new lease of life, if only to provide a valuable walk way through the village.

Having been a resident of Standish for some 25 years years David had always known about the Mineral Line and was disgusted that in an era of ecology and environmental drives nothing had ever been done with ‘The Line’ to ensure it became a vital ecologically friendly artery through the village.

So acting under the banner of a Guerilla Gardener, David took positive action single handedly to put something back into the community – the quest to make the line a nature haven and passable on foot along its 0.9 mile length began.  Over the next 2-3 years progress was slow and was documented on the blog Standish Guerilla Gardeners.

Some 4 years on Standish Mineral Line is blooming with wild flowers, the oak and pine trees that where donated are flourishing and the whole 0.9 mile path is passable on foot and with a pram or wheel chair.  Although the quest was a single handed effort, the whole project would have taken many more years if Standish Community Forum hadn’t have become involved –  many thanks to them and a certain councillor who believes in positive action!

David went on to recieve the Community Forum Award for services to the Environment.

It just goes to show, just putting a little effort in to put a little back into the community can make such a difference to so many lives and to the environment. Who says altruism doesn’t exist!