
The Friends of Goostrey Station (FoGS) recently enjoyed a double celebration after scooping a sustainability award and a grant to develop their art studio.
The group attended the 2021 Cheshire Best Kept Station Awards in Northwich at the start of April and were delighted to receive the Sustainability Award, recognising their work in areas including increasing biodiversity and promoting greener travel.
In recent years, FoGS have led on activities at the station including:
- Working with local young people, e.g. Cub groups, to build bug hotels and install bird and bat boxes;
- Recording species and habitats around the station using a Geographical Information System which has software to create biodiversity maps, which are then uploaded to the wildlife section of the FoGS website;
- Promoting the integration of walking and cycling with rail travel, including successfully applying to the Eco Fund of DPD for a grant towards purchasing and installing a covered cycle rack for use by commuters and school children;
- Creating regular displays in a platform shelter by children at Goostrey Community Primary School to be enjoyed by passengers and encourage residents to visit the station;
- Campaigning for the restoration of the Victorian station building, which has now been revamped as Goostrey Art Studio, which now plays host to workshops, exhibitions, and educational activities.
The studio is coordinated by local artist Debbie Goldsmith, and following a bid to the Community Fund of the National Lottery, she has been awarded £10,000 to further develop the venue as a creative events space. The grant will be used to add toilet and washroom facilities, as well as improve the interior of the studio by adding new tables and chairs. FoGS are currently applying to have the building listed by Historic England.
For more information on the group, who are currently looking for new volunteers, visit the FoGS website.
