New Forest railway stations win Stations in Bloom awards

GREEN-fingered volunteers are celebrating after three New Forest railway stations won Stations in Bloom awards.

Lymington Town station earned a gold award for the efforts made by the Friends of the Lymington to Brockenhurst Line (FOLBL) to brighten up the platforms and public areas.

Ashurst station also won gold, while Brockenhurst received a silver gong.

FOLBL’s joint honorary secretary Alastair Mann told the A&T: “I would say ‘wow’ was the immediate reaction of the judges of the 2023 Stations in Bloom event when they visited Lymington Town station back in July.

“They met with the people who help maintain the appearance of our local station and help station staff manage the historic displays and information inside the station building. Fast-forward three months and the friends learned the outcome of the judges’ deliberations.”

Representatives from all volunteer groups throughout the south picked up their certificates at an awards ceremony in Sherborne.

Mr Mann said: “Two committee members from FOLBL travelled – by train, of course – to Sherborne’s Castle Gardens Garden Centre to join over 100 others representing more than 50 railway stations.

“The awards were presented by Stuart Meek, the chief operating officer for South Western Railway.”

He continued: “Lymington Town was awarded a gold certificate, the highest category, and the summing up from the judges spotlighted the great community involvement that the friends encourage – planting at the station, the interesting historic displays, excursions to places like the Swanage railway and the Brooklands transport museum, as well as films shown at our annual general meetings.”