Published on: Thursday, 22 October 2020
Last updated: Thursday, 22 October 2020
Greater Anglia has recognised its ‘very special’ volunteers in Cambridgeshire who have been working to bring their local rail stations to the heart of their communities.
They include Peter Townrow of Manea station who was singled out for a Special Award for the work he and his team of helpers have carried out over the last 10 years which has dramatically changed the appearance of the station and transformed its standing in the community.
Over the years they have brought the station platforms to life with lovely floral displays and installed community information boards, as well as an unusual ‘waiting shed’ which contains a wealth of up to date rail and village information.
During his time volunteering at the station Peter has been a champion for the station and created beneficial working partnerships with the local parish council, Hereward Community Rail Partnership and Greater Anglia that have brought about improvements for the station.
Also recognised was Sue Park of Dullingham station on the Ipswich – Cambridge line.
Sue is taking the village on a ‘green journey’ through wildlife friendly schemes at the station and even creating a small pond - believed to the first at a rail station in the country.
She has even encouraged local people to donate their compostable waste to her so that she can use it to help improve the soil and some have even donated materials – like bird baths, planters and flowers - to help with the project.
Philip and Kathryn Ball were also praised for their unique and dedicated approach to nature gardening at Shelford station, which is helping to record and protect local wildlife there.
Since becoming station adopters Philip and Kathryn have kept detailed records of all the plants at the station, even wild ones, and observed the impact that they have on butterfly and moth populations and other wildlife.
The records and photography are then displayed in the waiting room for all to see and Kathryn even introduces the children she works with to the project.
They were all recognised at Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption Awards, held virtually on Friday 16 October.
Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption initiative sees local people across the network get involved with their local stations to come up with ideas and projects that benefit their communities.
Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said: "Our station adopters are very special people to achieve amazing things to benefit their communities and make them better places to live with their enthusiasm to bring rural stations to life and restore their links to the communities they serve.
"The adopters know their stations and the needs of their community well and we are happy to support their aims through small grants and facilitating improvements.
"I am delighted that we can also recognise and thank them through the Adopter Awards - we’ve seen some fantastic and innovative projects this year and I would like to thank them all for their continued hard work."