“This is one of the nicest stations I’ve visited.”  FoGS members Craig and Maggie Sidebotham were delighted to be told this by a lady who lives on the Wirral. She even took photos! It’s rewarding to know that our efforts to maintain Goostrey station are appreciated.

At the end of June, professional artist and FoGS member Debbie Goldsmith welcomed Goostrey cubs back to her studio in the restored station building. This time the children were able to earn the ‘Platforms for Change’ badge. Community Rail launched this initiative with the aim of involving scouts in projects led by groups like FoGS.  The cubs constructed and painted wooden boxes which will provide places for birds, bats and invertebrates to shelter and breed. It was clear that many of the colourful designs were influenced by the Euro football competition which was going on at the time!  During the evening, the cubs also enjoyed helping to keep the station tidy by sweeping the steps and parts of the car park. And they learned how Craig uses Geographical Information Systems to record species, including butterflies and nesting birds, around the station.

A few weeks later, helped by Fraser Wilson who is volunteering with FoGS as part of his bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, the boxes were placed on fences and trees around the station. This project was good value for money; while the scout group purchased the boxes and paint, our local Community Rail Partnership paid for the badges.

On a less pleasant note, FoGS recently reported 2 acts of vandalism at Goostrey station.  First, the doors of a display cabinet in a platform shelter were damaged; the centre bar had been bent by a considerable force. A few weeks later, the speaker announcements on both platforms stopped working because the wires had been pulled out of the junction boxes. FoGS have asked Rail Authorities for CCTV but so far it has not been installed.