Handforth Railway Station has been named the Best Kept Railway Station in Cheshire, for the second time, at the recent Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening.
Held at the Salt Museum, Northwich, the evening was attended by more than 90 guests from the community, including local volunteer groups and staff representing the rail industry.
The awards were presented by Helen Carey, OBE DL, who is Chairman of Cheshire Landscape Trust and Vice Chairman of Keep Britain Tidy.
John Hulme, Organiser of Cheshire Kept Best Stations, on announcing the award for Handforth said: “With 30 railway stations nominated for Cheshire Best Kept Stations, my judges had some difficult decisions to make but were unanimous that Handforth should be named Cheshire’s Best Kept Station.
“Congratulations should go to the Friends of Handforth Station who have continually helped towards the up-keep of the station since 1998. It has a Rotary Sculpture Garden, a Platform for Art and local schoolchildren have enjoyed poetry reading by Cheshire Poet Laureate W.Terry Fox, on the station. It has plants, planters, community notice boards; even their own flag poles and flags.”
“Handforth probably has the largest collection of European station name boards in the country. Now they can say they are “Cheshire’s Best Kept Station 2009”.
Cheshire East Council has recently provided financial support towards the maintenance of the station, funding a series of planters to protect an under-strength bridge deck at the Station, and the Plantation Garden Company of Plumley, planted trees and plants to ensure year-round displays.
Photo shows Steve Nash, Friends of Handforth Station, receiving Cheshire’s Best Kept Station Award 2009 from Helen Carey, OBE DL, who is Chairman of Cheshire Landscape Trust and Vice Chair of Keep Britain Tidy.
