Honiton Station has won a coveted Gold Award at the Stations in Bloom awards.

Friends of Honiton Station received the award at a ceremony in Sherborne.

The award recognises and celebrate the hard work and efforts of station volunteers across the network, as well as the vital work of railway staff in promoting the railway, routes and stations.

Judging for the competition took place in July. Honiton Station was competing against stations in Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

The Stations in Bloom project was co-ordinated by Caroline Rowland of the Blackmore Vale Community Rail Partnership and the awards were presented by Claire Mann, who is the Managing Director of South Western Railway.

The judges praised Friends of Honiton station for their efforts to reach out to the community groups, especially those working to support mental health and wellbeing. For example, Honiton Station has an 'Adopt a Pot' scheme, where local groups decorated planters at the station.

Martin Long is the Chairman of Friends of Honiton Station. He said: "I am beyond proud to be part of a group of people who do so much for the station, celebrating its past, improving its present and campaigning for its future.

"This award is truly for everyone: for our outstanding station staff, for all the members and supporters of The Friends of Honiton Station, for all the community groups who have adopted our planters, and for our industry partners, including South Western Railway, the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and Community Rail Network.

"Particular thanks go to Jenny Brown who worked so hard on the Platinum Jubilee art project and on the Adopt a Pot scheme, which have made such a difference to our station."

You can find out more about Friends of Honiton station here.

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