Whitchurch in Bloom strike GOLD twice in the space of a month, first winning GOLD in the South & South East in Bloom small town category, the citation recognising the group’s outstanding achievements in transforming the town centre and then following up a month later by winning GOLD in the ‘Stations in Bloom’ scheme.

This photo shows members of the team together with Whitchurch Walkers are Welcome coordinator, Jackie Browne (on the left of the picture) on the day of the judging.

Wishing to broaden their horizons, the Whitchurch in Bloom team turned their attention to the railway station, which they have now adopted as part of the Community Rail Partnership scheme and with grant money, purchased tiered planters and containers to decorate the forecourt and the station platforms. This initiative supports the wider tourism aims of the town and builds on the work at the station completed by WaW volunteers earlier this year, which saw the installation of new trail interpretation and information boards and new signage and coincided with South Western Railways renovating and redecorating the two Victorian Station buildings.

The focus for the two groups is to provide that all important welcome, a great first impression and they undoubtedly achieved that, with the judges commenting that this was ‘a Super example of people working together to transform the station’.