The Autumn Newsletter of the North Dorset Spetisbury Station, Dorset Photo: Kevin Mitchell 14 Trailway Network (NDTN) gives an update on the hard work that has been carried out by volunteers at Spetisbury Station. They encourage people to appreciate the landscaping and maybe pause a while on one of the benches or picnic tables to enjoy the views over the Stour Valley. All of this work has been accomplished since 2012 by the Spetisbury Station Project Group, which is a Community Interest Company working under licence from Dorset Council to preserve and enhance the former station. The volunteers have excavated the remains of the station buildings and signal box, cleared decades worth of vegetation and created a pleasant green, wildlife-friendly space whilst keeping its station heritage alive with replica railway items. Their aim is to provide a small café on one of the platforms which will serve as both a community hub and a refreshment stop for Trailway users.
Unfortunately, a reduction in volunteers recently has meant that the small team has struggled to maintain the site to its usual high standard, and will not be able to continue work parties next year unless more volunteers come forward. Without regular work parties the station will soon revert to the overgrown, untidy state in which they found it. They are looking for people willing to give up a few hours every second Sunday to help with grass and hedge cutting and tending the flower borders, also anyone able to maintain the timber platform furniture. None of the team actually lives in the village so they would be delighted to see local residents come forward to help look after their own community space. There are plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the restoration, which began in May 2012, over the coming year. Spetisbury Station was downgraded to an unstaffed halt on 13th August 1934, and closed altogether on 17th September 1956 along with other nearby halts at Corfe Mullen, Charlton Marshall and Stourpaine & Durweston. (NDTN)