NOT only judged the best garden on the Tarka Line, Copplestone railway station’s display has been shortlisted in the “It’s Your Station” category in the Community Rail Awards 2016, which is sponsored by ACoRP (Association of Community Rail Partnerships).

The planning, planting and watering is done by Ann Gatton with her team of Copplestone Garden Club members. This is their third year of looking after the station gardens.

Some plants are from member’s gardens, some are bought with the annual Tarka grant.

A superior bug hotel has been built resembling the signal box at Crediton with hedgehog accommodation on the ground floor.

Three water butts were put in by John Lewis of Signal Framing which backs onto the platform and a pumpkin is growing in one of the compost bins.

At the back of the waiting shelter is a patch the ladies call “Live and let live”, a dry, stony length where they are finding out what will and will not survive by trial and error.

Extra funding is raised by Ann who usually has a wheelbarrow of plants for sale outside her house and this money helps buy extra compost or other items.

The group hope that signs announcing who has provided what will go up on the platform.

The annual competition to determine the best railway station garden along the Tarka Line, run by the Tarka Rail Association, has become a keenly contested summer event and this year was no exception.

Marks were awarded in seven categories: initial impact, use of plants and flower colour, design and best use of space, husbandry, all-year interest, innovation and wildlife friendliness.

The ACoRP’s awards ceremony, where Copplestone will find out how they have done, will be held in Stockport on September 29.

The very commendable 2016 Tarka Line runners-up were: Chapelton (last year’s winner) with Newton St Cyres just ahead of Yeoford to gain third place.

Sue Read