Cheshire Best Kept Stations

John Hulme

Handforth Station – A Platform for Art

The Friends of Handforth Station have issued an “Artists’ Brief”, which invites proposals for further artwork to complement the installation of the new lift. 

This brief also provides an insight into how the Friends have used Art on their station over the years – which has caught the attention of judges of Cheshire Best Kept Stations ….

Network Rail and Northern Trains continue to  plan for the installation of new lifts at Handforth Station in 2022; if government restrictions on building works permit then the lifts may even be in place by the end of 2021.

The new lifts create a wonderful opportunity to further enhance the station, building on the station’s existing “Platform for Art”. The Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) plan to involve artists and the local community in the design process before the works start.

So on 16th of April 2020 FoHS announced an invitation to all to get involved with this.

FoHS have issued an “Artists’ Brief”, which invites proposals for further artwork to complement the installation of the lifts.

Jenny Barnes, the Artistic Co-ordinator for FoHS, said
“We shall ensure that the proposed artwork reflects the nature of the local community and meets the needs of all involved with the station.

“We are inviting artists to identify possible artistic enhancements to the new building works and then design them. As well as the lifts themselves, pathways, fences, seats, signage and other associated works also provide scope for inclusion in the design process.”

Handforth Station is already well-known nationally for the variety and extent of its artwork, and has won several awards from both Cheshire Best Kept Stations and from the UK-wide Community Rail Network.

Jenny added, “We would love local artists to read our announced brief and submit proposals for working with us and with Network Rail and Northern Trains.

“Our Artists’ Brief can be found on our web-site http://www.handforthstation.org.uk/ .

We are open for submissions until the 15th of May, and I can also be contacted for further information via handforthstation@gmail.co.uk ”.

As Cheshire Best Kept Stations said in their April InTouch Newsletter, a “picture paints a thousand words” ….

Handforth Station decked out for Christmas
Close-up of Christmas murals in Art In A Box
Local pupils’ artwork in 2015
Handforth Station’s Archway above the Crewe-bound platform
Painting exhibition on the Manchester-bound platform
Handforth Station’s famous Millennium Sign
Handforth Station – the concourse with Spring flowers

Spring at a Branch Line Station …..

Delamere Railway Station has probably more branches around it than most railway stations – after all it is in the heart of Delamere Forest !!

Unfortunately Covid-19 has suspended volunteer working at our stations in Cheshire but here is a glimpse of some of the work by the Petty Pool Trust – whose College and Outdoor Centre is just down the road from the station in Sandiway.

The Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership would like to thank all those from Petty Pool for making Delamere Railway Station a lovely place to visit.

This project was funded by the Northern Stations Fund through the Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association.

If you have photos and a story that would brighten our lives up as we traverse Covid-19, please contact the Cheshire Best Kept Station team .

Spring has come at Handforth Station

Hugh Everett, the  Secretary, Friends of Handforth Station provides further news and a pictorial flip-book ….

Hugh writes:

Last autumn at Handforth Station, we planted 100s of bulbs.

They started to appear just as lockdown was announced, which means that very few people have been able to see the wonderful displays on the concourse, let alone on the platforms.

Special kudos given to FoHS’s Roger Small, who did the bulk of the planting.

So one of our group has taken a few photographs and made a presentation of the result.

Click here to enjoy a flip-book presentation of Spring comes to Handforth Station in March 2020

The Friends of Meols Station share their News

We welcome the News from the Friends of Meols out on the Wirral with some images before lock-down ….

Jan Forster from The Friends of Hoylake and Meols in Bloom writes:

The Friends have put a gravel path behind existing beds  and created two new beds.

We have been waiting until the new lifts were finished to do this.

We have planted 20 roses in one bed and 45 ornamental grasses in another

We dread to think what the weeds will be like when we are are back station after lock-down!

InTouch Newsletter April 2020

I hope that you and your fellow group members are all well and keeping safe during these difficult times.

Activities have stopped as we all follow Government advice to keep safe and protect the NHS.

Looking after ourselves has got to be our main priority.

As we look to the future, we invite you to check out our website for the latest news of our Cheshire Stations.

We also welcome good news stories about your efforts even if they are reflecting on the past.

These should be sent to intouch@bestkeptstations.org.uk or simply reply to this email.

And remember a picture paints a thousand words!

We particularly bring your attention to:

–  Advice and guidance from Community Rail Network (formerly ACoRP) on keeping in touch and planning whilst we are in lock-down with Covid-19.

–  Our Cheshire Best Kept Stations Annual Report

It will come as no surprise to you that we are postponing our Annual General Meeting until post Covid-19 but you can read our Annual Report now.

–  The MyCheshire Children’s Arts Awards.

This is a Mid Cheshire CRP initiative aimed at Cheshire primary school children who can join a competition to paint their own railway station poster.

The winners will see their paintings adorn 15 poster cases on Mid Cheshire Line.

Take a look at some of the entries so far.

And … by special arrangement the competition is extended to “old Cheshire” so includes all Cheshire Best Kept Station entrants!

It has been a joy to recognise and celebrate the hard work, enthusiasm, creativity and community spirit in Cheshire last year.

This year is going to be a different year for Cheshire Best Kept Stations but our Best Kept Stations team are here to:

  • rekindle all the energy we can for Cheshire’s station projects
  • give help and to promote our station achievements both past and present
  • help keep in touch with Cheshire’s station projects even whilst we are in lock-down

Finally please remember that Cheshire is the only county to have its own Best Kept Station Competition.

Yes, in Cheshire we are simply the Best !!

Mark Barker
Chair
Cheshire Best Kept Stations

Do send us your news and photos to intouch@bestkeptstations.org.uk so we can keep other groups in touch of your station projects.