What a memorable evening! FoGS were delighted that, at the end of June, our local Beavers chose to hold their weekly meeting at Goostrey station. Despite the hot weather, the children concentrated on the tasks that we provided and everyone was proud of what they achieved.

Inside Goostrey Art Studio, Debbie Goldsmith showed the Beavers how to make and decorate a wind chime to take home. Afterwards, other volunteers helped the children to fill seven small tubs with compost which had been donated by Wickes, before adding a selection of bedding plants provided by FoGS. Passengers have benefited from the colourful flowers as they have brightened the area near the ticket machine and information board throughout the summer.

Group leader Helen Slevin wrote ‘I just wanted to say thank you so much for having us last week. The Beavers really loved their hour at the station. I have never seen them as quiet as they were during the planting session!’

FoGS is a small group of enthusiastic volunteers who want passengers to enjoy using Goostrey Staton.

We keep the area tidy, tend flowering plants and encourage children’s art. In addition we continue to improve biodiversity in the area and deepen our understanding of the history of our local railway. Extra help from both adults and children is always welcome. You can find out more by contacting Craig Sidebotham on 01477 544111 or by looking at our website

Once again FoGS hired a stall at Goostrey Rose Day.
It’s such a good opportunity to display photos of our work and to encourage more local people to join us. We were delighted that our DoE volunteer was there all day. First he helped the Rose Day volunteers to put up the stall awnings and then he talked to visitors to FoGS stall (who included Sarah Russell MP).
15 people completed our questionnaire. All agreed that it was important to have a railway station in the village, especially as it is on the main line from Crewe to Manchester. Half of them usually walked to Goostrey station and a third used it daily or weekly. One person suggested that Goostrey should be a request stop for the Manchester Airport service. It was good to hear that all had noticed improvements since FoGS was established in 2012. One commented that the flowers look amazing, while another wrote that the work FoGS do, both at the station and in the community, is invaluable.
FoGS is a small group of enthusiastic volunteers who want passengers to enjoy using Goostrey Staton. We keep the area tidy, tend flowering plants and encourage children’s art. It’s also important that we continue to improve biodiversity and our understanding of the history of our local railway. Extra help is always welcome. You can find out more by contacting Craig Sidebotham on 01477 544111 or by looking at our website.

 

On the morning of Friday 3rd July there was an art unveiling ceremony at Delamere Station to celebrate the recently installed art panels created by the pupils of Delamere C of E Academy Primary School.

At 10.30am Community Rail Officer Sarah Muir gave a short welcome speech to the invited guests who had assembled on Pl.2 to attend the unveiling. Sarah then handed over to Delamere school pupils and Arts Council representatives Ellie and Esme who cut the red ribbon on these colourful panels which are on display in the stone waiting shelter on this platform. The pair were given a big round of applause by the invited guests who included their incoming head teacher Juliette Inskip, project funders and Delamere Station volunteers.

Lead station volunteer Dave Sutton came up with the idea for the platform art last year and contacted the school who were keen to help. Sarah Muir of the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership helped to coordinate the project and worked with Johnsons of Nantwich who printed the children’s artwork on the aluminium panels.

The colourful and creative pictures feature scenes and landmarks from the local area.

Lead volunteer David Sutton said “I thought the artwork was sensational and showed off our community, its school, station and forest,”

We would like to thank Delamere C of E Primary Academy for providing the artwork for their local station.

Thanks also go to Cross Country, Northern Trains Ltd, Friends of Delamere Station and Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership for their funding and support of this project.

Again on 3rd July at 11.30am there was an art unveiling morning at Mouldsworth Station to celebrate the recently installed panels which feature the colourful and creative artwork from the pupils of nearby Ashton Hayes Primary School. The pictures were inspired by train travel and scenes from the local area. The art panels can be found along Platform1 and also in the stone waiting shelter on Platform.2.

Community Rail officer Sarah Muir kicked off proceedings with a short welcome speech and then handed over to Eric Hogg who is a Year 5 pupil from the school and along with parents  Clair and Neil Hogg is also a volunteer at the station out of school hours. Eric delivered a fantastic speech of his own before snipping the red ribbon on one of the panels and receiving a round of applause from  the assembled guests and  fellow pupils. Clair Hogg came up with the idea to brighten the station up with some artwork last year and invited the school to help. The panels were produced by print and design company Johnsons of Nantwich.

Eric Hogg said “As a Mouldsworth station volunteer and pupil at Ashton Hayes Primary School I was very proud to unveil the artwork created by my school. We all enjoyed drawing trains and the countryside. We hope everyone enjoys the artwork for many years to come.”