TARKA Line rail passengers passing through Copplestone one evening last week were met by the flash of photographs.

Clearly some sort of celebration was taking place; a double celebration in fact.

The Friends of Copplestone Station, a group of keen gardeners led by Anne Gatton, were receiving their awards. 

Alan Clark, Tarka Rail Association (TRA) Stations’ Officer, was on-hand to present the group with their First Prize in this year’s Tarka Line Stations’ Garden Competition: a crystal chalice (the perfect size and shape for a flower arrangement!) mounted on an engraved plinth and a pair of First Class tickets to go anywhere in GWR territory.

Moments later, former TRA Chairman John Phillips stepped in to present the group with a Gold Award certificate from the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP), whose judges, led by Paul Cook of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), had been effusive in their praise.

Noting that Copplestone was the only station in the country where the gardeners had taken the trouble to name unusual plants, they concluded: “The level of horticulture, care, creativity and maintenance of the garden is outstanding.”

The end of this year’s gardening season will be a trifle poignant.

This week sees the contractors moving in to install improved platform lighting — a project that will involve much of Copplestone station’s award-winning garden being dug up!

Alan Quick