Of course the Woodsmoor Owls have to be dressed for Halloween !!

Early in October, chair of Friends of Goostrey Station (FoGS) Craig Sidebotham represented the group at a meeting in Leeds. Employees from Northern, TransPennine Express and Network Rail were celebrating the positive impact of Community Rail across the country. They also heard about preparations for the transition to Great British Railways.

During the day, Craig was thrilled to receive an award for achieving silver status in the Wildlife Friendly Station scheme. This was a pilot project and Goostrey was one of just 6 stations chosen to take part. Craig was congratulated by Lisa Pfannermuller, (head of natural environment at the Rail Safety and Standards Board) and Mark Barker (chair of Cheshire Best Kept Stations).

FoGS were assessed by a professional from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. He visited Goostrey station in September so he could find out what we had done to improve biodiversity. This was an excellent opportunity to showcase FoGS’ work to increase the variety of habitats, for example by planting an apple tree and by creating bug hotels and boxes for birds & bats. The ecologist also learned how species diversity is mapped and monitored through GIS. Now we’re looking forward to receiving suggestions specific to our location and resources about how to build on what we have already achieved.

You can find out more about FoGS by contacting Craig Sidebotham on 01477 544111 or by looking at our website. And you can meet us at Goostrey station during our action mornings which are usually on the second Sunday of the month. Our volunteers include young people who are part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Despite having a small number of Station Adopters and facing ongoing challenges with vandalism, Alsager Station continues to thrive thanks to the dedication and hard work of its volunteers and wider community.

Throughout the year, Station Adopters and local residents have worked tirelessly to ensure the station remains a welcoming and attractive place for passengers and visitors alike. Beautiful seasonal planting, regular maintenance, litter picking, and creative crochet displays have transformed the station into a vibrant community space that reflects the pride local people have in their town.

The station’s planters and floral displays provide colour throughout the seasons, creating an attractive gateway to Alsager. Volunteers regularly give their time to maintain the station environment, ensuring that it remains clean, safe, and inviting despite the challenges posed by vandalism and limited volunteer numbers.

Community involvement extends beyond traditional station adoption activities. Local knitters and crocheters have contributed eye-catching display on the post-box just outside the station that bring smiles to passengers and help create a warm and friendly atmosphere. These creative installations showcase the talent, generosity, and community spirit that make Alsager such a special place.

The commitment shown by volunteers demonstrates that even a small group of dedicated individuals can make a significant difference. Their efforts not only improve the appearance of the station but also encourage community pride, promote rail travel, and provide a positive experience for everyone using the railway.

Alsager Station is a testament to what can be achieved when local people come together with a shared vision. Through their resilience, determination, and enthusiasm, volunteers have created a station that is both welcoming and representative of the strong community spirit found throughout Alsager. It is this continued dedication and partnership working that make Alsager Station a worthy candidate for Cheshire Best Kept Stations recognition for future years.

The Woodsmoor Owls have been quiet for a bit, so we have decided to dress them as Pirates for Talk Like a Pirate Day.

And here are some words you can sing along to with Captain Pugwash !!

Goostrey – meet the friends keeping it on track. Did you spot this headline on the front cover of the September edition of Cheshire Life? Inside the glossy magazine, there’s a four page article about Goostrey Station!

When they visited last summer, John Hulme (the founder and president of Cheshire Best Kept Stations), Mark Barker (the chair of CBKS) and Kurt Thomas (photographer) were impressed. And FoGS were thrilled to be the focus of attention!

During the morning, chair of FoGS Craig Sidebotham told the visitors about the ambitious work between 2012 and 2019 which resulted in the restoration of the wooden Victorian station building and its transformation into a thriving creative space. Artist Debbie Goldsmith described recent  workshops where enthusiastic cubs and beavers made wind chimes to take home. And she was delighted to point out the unique Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Plaque which she helped pupils at Goostrey primary school to create.

John and Mark loved the colourful displays of flowers welcoming passengers on both platforms, and they were interested to hear how FoGS have increased biodiversity around the station. The area has a rich past as well. In his article, John wrote ‘Passengers waiting for a train today are standing in a place that connects them with almost two centuries of railway history.’

John also included the recognition that FoGS have had both locally and nationally which is ‘richly deserved’. Our 11 awards from CBKS are displayed on platform one. We’ve also received 17 short-listings and 4 wins at the National Community Rail Awards. We’re particularly proud that the wins include the prestigious 2022 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Rail; this is presented to the volunteer group which has contributed most during the year.

You can find out more about FoGS by contacting Craig Sidebotham on 01477 544111 or by looking at our website. And you can meet us at Goostrey station during our monthly action mornings. Our volunteers include young people who are part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.