To mark the anniversaries FOBS members have been creating a wellbeing garden with a listening bench, beyond the station building on Platform One, from a design created by Pete Hardman, a member of the group.

The garden not only provides a peaceful spot to relax whilst waiting for a train or during a walk, but is also designed to be a friendly spot for local wildlife, with planting to attract insects and small ponds to provide refreshment. The Bentham Line is known to be a wildlife corridor and the new garden makes a great stopping point along the way.

The listening bench is a place for peaceful conversation and support, and to view and listen out for the visiting wildlife.

A representative of the ‘Book Fairies’ recently visited the station and left a beautifully presented new book on each of the seats, to encourage relaxation through reading.

A rescued hedgehog, ‘Chog’, was brought over from Keighley, to be released in the garden, complete with its new abode.

FOBS were grateful grants totalling £1,000 from Bentham Town Council and Northern Trains towards the creation of the garden.

Richard Isaac, Community and Sustainability Manager at Northern Trains, officially opened the garden and presented gifts to Pete and Sue Hardman. He expressed sincere thanks to the FOBS members for their extensive voluntary work at the station over the last 15 years.

The Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership (The Bentham Line) has been based at the station since 2013 but was formed back in 2006. It is now in its 21st year of bringing the Bentham Line communities and the railway closer together on this increasingly popular scenic route, which is also a lifeline for the rural  population to vital services. Passenger journeys have increased four-fold over the life of the partnership with over 41,000 journeys now being made to and from Bentham.

Ian Davis, Regional Officer from the Community Rail Network based at Huddersfield, unveiled a plaque on the station building  to mark the anniversaries. He reflected on the determined volunteer endeavours of both the LMCRP and FOBS, over the years. He highlighted the CRP’s work on making the Bentham Line dementia friendly and on the more recent ‘Box on the Bay’ project; the creation of a STEM education facility in the signal box at Hest Bank. He felt FOBS had created a marvellous asset for the town and a great gateway to the community.

Photograph captions

1. Opening of Wellbeing Garden by Richard Isaac.
2. Presentation to Pete and Sue Hardman.
3. Unveiling of plaque by Ian Davis.

Photographs courtesy of Brian Haworth.