Since they were established in 2009, the Friends of Buxton Station have worked tirelessly to establish their station as a welcoming, vibrant and accessible community hub.

Having achieved platinum level in this category in 2020, the volunteers have enjoyed another stellar few years, extending their already expansive range of community development and environmental work.

Such projects include:

• Engaging with Buxton Town Team to repurpose old poppies into a piece of sustainable, Remembrance art;
• Collaborating with Network Rail to rewild an area of station land;
• Supporting Ukrainian settlers to feel part of the community through activities at the station;
• Partnering with Northern’s accessibility team to improve signage and wayfinding;
• Empowering artists from marginalised groups to exhibit their work at the station;
• Promoting rail’s connections with buses, cycling and walking & wheeling to access more sustainable days out;
• Encouraging ‘bumblebee safaris’ from Buxton and nine other stations in the Peak District.

It is undeniable that the Friends of Buxton Station go above and beyond in their dedication to their station and are passionate advocates for the benefits to be experienced by communities feeling connected to their local rail network. No activity, event or project is ever too big, challenging or off limits, and they are an inspiring example of a thriving community rail station.

Coöperatie Stationspark Deurne is a station friends’ group that is putting community rail firmly on the map of the Netherlands.

The group has positioned Deurne Station as a vibrant hub at the heart of its community, delivering a diverse range of projects including a bicycle service point, a book exchange and a Fairtrade catering facility.

The community garden provides an opportunity for a range of people – from local residents to school pupils and older people with dementia – to come together, form connections and learn new skills. Whether volunteers are caring for the chickens, litter picking, landscaping or harvesting fruits and vegetables, they are cultivating Deurne Station as a true community space, one that everyone can be proud of.

Going well beyond their station, Coöperatie Stationspark Deurne has built momentum on a wider scale, gathering best practice from the UK and empowering community groups at other stations to carry out impactful initiatives.

Watch this video about Coöperatie Stationspark Deurne.

Once an old, disused parcel room and ticket office and now a thriving community hub, Bishopstone Station has gone from strength to strength this year thanks to the dedicated group of volunteers.

The transformed community space was officially opened in November 2022, equipped with activity, kitchen and storage areas, and fully accessible for wheelchair users. The Friends of Bishopstone Station manage and maintain the hub, which already hosts weekly ‘Meet Up Mondays’ drop-in sessions, local history talks, arts and crafts classes, French language tuition and yoga practice, while providing a meeting space for other local community organisations.

The Friends group didn’t just stop at building restoration – some of their other activities include maintaining the station garden with wildflowers and bee-friendly plants, hosting seed swaps and a pop-up pantry scheme, and organising art workshops for children. Through their hard work and determination, the volunteers have truly breathed new life into their station, establishing it’s indispensable place at the heart of community life.

When faced with a shortage of volunteers at Habrough Station towards the end of 2023, fellow volunteers from the Friends of the Barton Line stepped in to help, forging new links with the owner of Southerton’s Store, a local shop located opposite the station, who became the new adopters of the station.

The new volunteers weren’t daunted by the large, overgrown and uninviting areas when they took on the challenge – instead, they got to work, saw their plans starting to take shape, and even encouraged friends and family to come and join in, bringing the number of adopters up to six.

In the first few months since they came on board, the new adopters have worked hard to bring colour and cohesion to a previously neglected space. Their activities have developed from litter picking and clearing rubbish and weeds from the main green space, to making plans for art installations and the addition of bug hotels and bird boxes.

Where previously passengers arriving or passing through the village were greeted by untidy planters and an overgrown garden, they are now met by beautiful vibrant planting and an attractive, tidy station. The work has provided the opportunity for the whole community to share knowledge, skills and ideas, as well as increasing their confidence, physical activity and wellbeing.