Railway 200 has been celebrated by the Weardale Railway through a project which has brought together students, volunteers, charities and local organisations.

At Stanhope Station, there are now four specially shaped planters, which take the shape of locomotives to represent railway history, including Locomotion No.1.

The project, coordinated by Nigel Bryson of Cultivate 4 Life, has won Gold at Northumbria’s In Bloom awards.

Nigel was supported by Sam Slatcher, from Story Train, and helped to secure funding from Durham County Council’s Weardale Area Action Partnership.

The joinery department from Bishop Auckland College helped bring the designs to life, with the planters transported by Teescraft and installed by Weardale Railway engineers.

Volunteers then worked to plant a range of flowers, and after 6 months of work, they were ready to be judged on the 17th September, where they were named ‘Best in Class’.

“This project shows what can be achieved when the community comes together. From funding to building, installing, and planting, everyone played their part – and the award is a wonderful recognition of that teamwork.”

Nigel Bryson