Alderley Edge Railway Station was named Cheshire East's Best Kept Station at the recent Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening.   

Prestbury Station won the first Photographic Award. This was run in conjunction with Cheshire Life magazine and was decided on a public vote. It also won the Northern Sustainability Award; the first time a station has won two Awards in the same year in the 22-year history of Cheshire Best Kept Stations. 

Styal Station won the Rising Star Award and third place in the Cheshire Life Photographic Award.  

A record attendance of 180 people saw 17 stations in the former county of Cheshire 'score' at Crewe Alexandra Football Club when Cheshire Best Kept Stations Annual Awards were held on Thursday 6 February. 

The Awards were presented before ten Borough and Town Mayors by Mr Craig Harrop, Regional Director West and Central for Northern Railway. 

Group photo from Cheshires best kept stations annual awards (Image-supplied).

Nantwich Station won the coveted overall winner's "Cheshire Best Kept Station Award", the first time the top award has gone to this station.  

On presenting the awards, Craig Harrop said: "It's fantastic to be part of this celebration of volunteers and the local railway community, who through their incredible skills, passion and hard work, help to brighten up stations across the county. 

"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 across Cheshire and the North of England." 

Chair of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, Mark Barker, said: "Tonight's Awards Evening is a celebration for all the volunteers and community groups who do so much to brighten up our stations in Cheshire. You are all winners – whether or not you pick up an award tonight. 

"Tonight, at our new venue Crewe Alexandra Football Club, we are saying a big thank you to volunteers and for those who support and encourage you – the rail industry, civic leaders and local authorities. You deserve it. You should be proud of your work at so many of our Cheshire stations. 

"We have seen some truly excellent work from volunteers and staff at stations right across Cheshire." 

Craig Harrop, Rob Sawyer, Gemma Nichols, Sarah Ward-Novak, Mark Barker (Image-supplied).

Paul Webster, Community Rail Network's Regions Support Manager, who also spoke at the event said: "Each of Cheshire's stations ably demonstrates how they are a gateway to their community, offering a colourful floral welcome for visitors arriving there or with artwork which leaves a long lasting pictorial memory that people getting on a train will take with them. 

Alderley Edge station was awarded at the event, thanks to the generous work of volunteers.

The Friends Group helps maintain the station at Alderley Edge and is hard working, ingenious and ambitious for its station, in order to transform its image. There is plenty of planting on forecourts and platforms, including an herb garden on a pallet, and upcycling a sandbox. 

High quality artwork shows the beautiful natural environment of the village, local maps and heritage, and the history of the Manchester-Crewe line. Plans are advancing to develop a redundant building as a community facility, and this is likely to become a reality in the coming year thanks to the groups persistence and professionalism that has gained the support of Northern and Network Rail. 

Kelvin Briggs of Friends of Alderley Edge Station said: "We are delighted to have received the Cheshire East Award for 2024 following on from the Cheshire Best Kept Station Award in 2023. It's so pleasing the judges have again acknowledged our feature gardens, planters and artwork and deemed them worthy of award. 

"We look forward to displaying some history boards relating to Rail 200 this year to help make our station a more welcoming and interesting place for rail passengers and visitors." 

An eye-catching map mural was produced featuring local attractions leaving visitors in no doubt where they are (Image-supplied).

Styal Station was awarded the prestigious Rising Star Award.

When the Village Association adopted the station, activity on the station was energised. As well as volunteer working parties to tidy up and do some painting, rail safety training was organised at the station for classes at the village school featuring Arlo the Badger and his adventures.

An eye-catching map mural was produced featuring local attractions leaving visitors in no doubt where they are. They also came third in the Cheshire Life Photographic Award. 

Sarah Ward-Novak of Styal Village Association said: "Having recently adopted Styal station, this was our first year at the awards. We were over the moon, that we won a couple of awards. It is lovely to know that the work the volunteers are doing is being recognised." 

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