Visit from Friends of Silverdale Station
Friends of Goostrey Station are rightly proud of their achievements and it’s exciting when others approach us for help. The latest request came from a station adoption group in Lancashire.
Eight years ago, a group of volunteers adopted Silverdale station on the Furness Line, the railway that connects Barrow-in-Furness to Lancaster. Craig and Maggie Sidebotham made contact when they explored the RSPB site Leighton Moss which is about 500m from the station. As a result, on 9th November, several Friends of Silverdale Station travelled by train (of course!) to Goostrey, seeking advice. Their members already tidy the platforms and plant flowerbeds, but now they are keen to restore the Victorian waiting room for community use.
Craig took the opportunity to explain how we are working to increase biodiversity within the site boundary, and how he regularly uses GIS to map species variety and abundance. After they had seen the artwork and railway memorabilia at Goostrey, resident artist Debbie Goldsmith showed the visitors her studio so they could appreciate how our station building had been rejuvenated.
The discussions continued over lunch and included how FoGS applies for funding plus the series of actions which resulted in the renovation of the station building. Our visitors were amazed at how much we had achieved since 2012. They left with plenty of advice, and high hopes for the future of their group.
