THE Friends of Crediton Station braved rainy weather for their first session of 2017 on January 12 to plant bulbs and tidy up the planters and raised beds.

The Friends are brightening up the platform for passengers on the Tarka Line between Barnstaple and Exeter.

The group also celebrated the installation of a new sign on the railings on platform one “Welcome to Crediton Railway Station”, which was sponsored by local businessman Chris Reed of Reed Lettings and designed by Friend of Crediton Station, David Gosling.

The Friends group is keen to recruit more new members with green fingers to help them care for the flower beds and planters in 2017 at their monthly sessions on Thursday mornings.

New volunteers are invited to join in a planting session at the station on the morning of Thursday, February 9, from 10am and finishing at noon with refreshments in the Crediton Station Tea Rooms.

Alan Stewart from the Friends group said: “We welcome Crediton residents to join us to help keep the station platforms looking bright and colourful. We are planning our Spring and Summer planting and are looking for keen gardeners to help us with the planting.”

More information about joining the Friends of Crediton Station is available from Celia Minoughan, Project Officer at the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, on 07929 243510 or by email at: [email protected] .

Day return tickets from Crediton to Barnstaple are currently better than half-price at just £4.05 (usual price £8.30). Take any morning train, return the same day. The offer runs until April 17, 2017.

The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership is a non-profit partnership between local authorities and the rail industry which works to promote local railways in the two counties.

Alan Quick