Volunteers at one of Northern’s West Yorkshire stations are “proud and delighted” after being recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Todmorden in Bloom and Friends bagged a Gold award in the 2023 Yorkshire Rose Town Summer Award category for their work at Todmorden railway station.
The volunteers have installed planters and hanging baskets at the station, turning it into into a riot of colour. They also tend to a ‘Lover’s Walk’ garden.
The garden was recreated at the station after it won a bronze medal at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in the Community Borders category.
It was sponsored by the train operator and was inspired by walks to the town’s local landmark Stoodley Pike, a monument where couples would graffiti dedications to each other.
Visitors to the station can now enjoy a replica of the monument alongside flowers that symbolise romance such as Larkspur, Dahlias, Geraniums and Nigella (Love in a Mist).
Shelia Greenwood, from Friends of Todmorden and Todmorden in Bloom said: “We are proud and delighted to be representing Yorkshire in this prestigious national competition, it is a huge accolade for a small town like Todmorden and the Calderdale Line. The RHS have recognised our towns strong sense of community spirit, interesting horticulture, sustainability, and environment. We would like to thank Northern for their constant encouragement and all our supporters who have helped make this possible.
Kerry Peters, regional director at Northern, said: “I’d like to thank all our volunteers who have created a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy and for their continued work at Todmorden station.”
“Our community partners are the heartbeat of the railway and we’re extremely proud to work closely with them to deliver such a wide-ranging positive impact for the north of England.”
