COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ‘ADOPT’ DOLAU & LLANWRTYD WELLS STATIONS

Two award-winning Mid Wales railway stations have added to the accolades proudly displayed at the stations.

Dolau Adopters Dolau and Llanwrtyd Wells stations, on the beautiful Heart of Wales Line, have been officially ‘adopted’ this week (Monday 11 September) under the Arriva Trains Wales ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme. The scheme involves communities in caring for their local railway station.

Green-fingered locals teamed up as the ‘Dolau Station Action Group’ 23 years ago to take Dolau Station under their wing. The group visit the station once a week to ensure that the station gardens are looking their best and that the station is neat and tidy for local people.

Speaking at the station, Elspeth Vipond, who co-ordinates the work of the group along with her husband Steve, said: “Many of our members have been helping to maintain the station’s floral displays for a number of years and adopting the station is a natural progression.

“Caring for the station gardens is a key part of what we do and we have won a number of awards for our efforts including Wales in Bloom’s Best-Kept Railway Station. This is a wonderful added bonus for a pastime that the group enjoy very much.

“The real reward for us is when travellers come from far and wide to visit the station. Just yesterday a group of ladies from Hereford came to sit and enjoy the flowers and we often meet ramblers and gardeners who come to the station from all over Wales for this reason.”

Plaques and certificates marking these awards are proudly mounted in the station’s platform shelter.

Llanwrtyd Wells Station, which is the gateway to Britain’s smallest town, has been taken on by another enthusiastic and community-spirited group of gardeners. Ainsley Jones, from Llanwrtyd, shares the responsibility with the ‘Friends of Llanwrtyd Station’ group.

This year Llanwrtyd Wells Station won Wales’ Best-kept Railway Station award, beating local rival Dolau to the crown.
Ainsley Jones said: “We took on an unofficial role caring for the station 10 years ago and in that time have learnt which flowers are best suited to the station. By officially adopting the station, a station plaque will recognise the efforts of local people who take a great deal of pride in what we do here.”

Shelley Hall, station manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “We already have an excellent working relationship with the station adopters at Dolau and Llanwrtyd. The scheme is about encouraging local people to take an interest in their local station and these groups go that extra mile to put their stations at the heart of their communities.”

“The adoptions will help us keep the stations in the best possible condition for local people and visitors alike. Both stations’ award-winning flower displays are already a draw for tourists visiting the area and passing through by train and we are extremely grateful for the time and commitment put in by both groups.”

Two other picturesque Heart of Wales Line stations, Cynghordy and Llanwrda, have also been officially adopted this week. Over two-thirds of Arriva Trains Wales’ 190 unstaffed stations have been taken on under its adoption scheme.

Station adopters carry out regular spot checks relating to the tidiness and cleanliness of the station, in addition to those already undertaken by Arriva Trains Wales. Any issues that may need addressing are then passed on to the local station manager. In return, adopters are offered travel vouchers for use on the Arriva Trains Wales network.

More information about the Adopt a Station scheme is available by calling Arriva Trains Wales’ customer relations team on 0845 6061 660 or by visiting www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk.