Published on: Monday, 16 October 2017
Last updated: Monday, 16 October 2017
Their ‘can do’ attitude has led to the creation of a beautiful garden at their local rail station with plans for another on a steep, bramble-covered embankment. Now, the volunteer group at Whittlesford Parkway station has been recognised with an award by train operator Greater Anglia for their outstanding team work and commitment.
Margot Maitland, Hilary Davey and Peter Dee beat 45 other nominees from across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire at Greater Anglia’s 2017 Adopter Awards, held at Ipswich Town Football Club today (Friday 13th 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.
Many other community volunteers in Cambridgeshire were also recognised including Max Mobius, station adopter for March station who won the ‘Best Personal Contribution’ award for creating a fantastic memorial garden in what would have been the old station masters garden at the front of the station, providing an attractive welcome.
Highly Commended in the Judge’s Special Awards were Philip and Kathryn Ball, adopters for Shelford station, for their unique and dedicated approach to nature gardening. Since becoming station adopters they 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.
Peter Townrow was also shortlisted for his support at Manea station which he keeps spotless and stocked with information.
Adopters from across the region were recognised in categories including Best Community Project, Best Small Station, Best Adopter Group, and Most Improved Station.
Andrew Goodrum, Greater Anglia’s Customer Service Director, said: “Our station adopters are real community heroes who give so much time and 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.”