Cheshire Best Kept Stations

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Goostrey Station are celebrating again! ….

Spring 2025 saw FoGS receiving more awards for our work to improve Goostrey station.

In February, we won the Community Engagement Award from Cheshire Best Kept Stations (CBKS) and so we have a tenth totem to display at the station.

This award recognised the variety of ways in which FoGS are involved with local people.

For example, we ran a stall at Rose Day and we contributed to Goostrey Parish Archive’s transport exhibition during Goosfest. We also helped Jodrell Side WI with their project to create a coronation wall-hanging.  And Debbie Goldsmith regularly leads workshops for children at Goostrey Art Studio and in towns like Crewe and Bury.

We were successful in the CBKS photo competition too.  ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ received enough votes from our supporters to secure second place.

In March, FoGS were invited to attend the 20th Community Rail Awards in Newcastle-on-Tyne, where we were competing against 75 Community Rail Partnerships and over 1000 volunteer groups.

Just over 50% of the 227 entries were shortlisted, including all four that FoGS submitted.

Through public voting we were placed third for our photo.  And we achieved enough points in the category It’s Your Station to be in the top 4 out of 40 volunteer groups, so we received a platinum certificate (unfortunately it wasn’t made of metal – just paper!).

 

Best Kept Station Awards are featured in Cheshire Life

The 2022 Best Kept Station Awards are featured in a six-page spread in July 2023’s edition of Cheshire Life ….

The July 2023 edition of Cheshire Life featured a six-page spread including details of all the winning stations.

Cheshire Best Kept Stations Chair Mark Barker said:

” We sent a press release covering our Annual Awards Evening and the magazine’s editor Joanne Goodwin rang to follow it up.

“I briefed her on what station adoptions were and their work, and gave her some background on the winners.

“The Cheshire Life team got in touch with some of the winners and took more photos to supplement those provided by CBKS.”

“The result is a superb six page spread showcasing the fine work being fine by volunteers and CRPs on Cheshire’s stations. Cheshire is a stronghold of CRPs, with four crossing the county. This publicity had brought their work to a new influential audience.”

Click here to read this special edition of Cheshire Life

And, do not forget to nominate your station for one of our Special 2023 Nominated Categories.

Who knows which publication your station may appear in next?

News from Goostrey Art Studio ….

Recently, Debbie Goldsmith has been leading creative workshops at Goostrey Scout Hut.

In March, she taught local scouts how to screen-print fun designs onto their own T shirts.  In April, just before Easter, the cubs learned about paper engineering and designed their own pop out jack-in-the-boxes.

On Monday 8th May, professional artist Debbie Goldsmith will be marking the Coronation of King Charles III by running a free, hands-on workshop at Goostrey Art Studio.

She’ll be making and decorating clay stepping stones.  Local residents of all ages are welcome to join her any time between 11am and 1pm – there’s no need to book.

You’ll be making tiles and using natural materials and letter shapes to create your own special message to commemorate this historic year.  The Clay Studio in Manchester will finish the pieces in their kilns.

When they’re ready, Friends of Goostrey Station will be helping Debbie to install them in the gardens around Goostrey Station. This will be a permanent display, so you’ll be able to visit your work of art at any time.

No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided. If you have any questions about this project,  please contact Debbie on goostreyartstudio@yahoo.com

This will be part of a national day called The Big Help Out when members of the public are encouraged to try volunteering for themselves. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in our community.  During the workshop, you’ll be able to find out about the work of the award-winning volunteer group, Friends of Goostrey Station.

Meols Station on the Wirral make progress ….

The Friends of Hoylake & Meols in Bloom give an overview of their activities at Meols Station on the Wirral ….

It has been another challenging year in the gardening season, thanks in part to the pandemic, with a much reduced team, the importance of keeping the public space well cared for has been our top priority. Footfall initially was greatly reduced, however that didn’t detract from the continued work required, which was/is to ensure that work carried out on the beds at Meols station continued/s & remains a positive place in which to visit. Either to catch a service or for some locals, advice on the planting in situ, or their own gardening challenges! This has been the main focus of the Friends of Hoylake & Meols in Bloom, during the period between March 2020/21 period.

Click here to read more and see the images of their lovely planting