A North Wales railway station which has seen itself transformed from a tired halt to a gardeners’ paradise and local picnic spot has scooped a UK award for the local people that made it possible.

Dolwyddelan Station has been named the UK’s Most Enhanced Community Station by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP). The award recognises the work of two local groups to improve the station environment for local rail users.

The station has been ‘adopted’ by Dolwyddelan Yn Ei Blodau and young people from Cylch Yr Ifanc, under the Arriva Trains Wales ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme. Supported by community rail officer Larry Davies, volunteers have transformed the station garden with a range of plants and flowers and created a picnic spot for local people and visitors in the station’s former goods yard.

In winning the award the groups fought off competition from Burscough Bridge and Parbold stations in West Lancashire. The judges commended the way that local people, young and old, had pulled together to create a welcoming gateway to the station and the beautiful Conwy Valley Line. Retired couple David and Olwen Williams from Dolwyddelan collected the award on behalf of the station adoption teams, alongside Arriva station manager Gerald Jones. Speaking at the awards David said: “It’s absolutely wonderful to receive a UK award for the work that local people have put in to improve Dolwyddelan Station. For us there’s no better prize than seeing the station gardens appreciated and the picnic area in use. We often return to the station to find the picnic benches moved around so that families and large groups can sit together and share a meal. It always brings a smile to our faces to think that the station garden has been enjoyed in this way.”

On receiving the award the station adoption groups have been congratulated by Arriva Trains Wales and have also received special recognition from Andrew Davies, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister responsible for transport in Wales. Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, said:  "This is marvellous news for the station adopters and for all the local people and visitors who use Dolwyddelan Station.  Encouraging people to use public transport regularly is an important part of our transport policy and projects like this can only help to promote the station and the beautiful Conwy Valley Line. Arriva's success under its Adopt a Station scheme, here and at other stations across Wales and the borders, is a tribute to their commitment to involving communities in their local railway.”

Gerald Jones, Dolwyddelan’s station manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “We are really delighted that the efforts of the groups at Dolwyddelan Station have been recognised like this. Our Adopt a Station scheme asks local people to act as an extra pair of eyes and ears at our stations and let us know if there are any issues that need addressing. But the groups at Dolwyddelan have really gone that extra mile to help improve their station for local people and visitors and we are grateful to them for their hard work and commitment.”

In August this year, Conwy Valley locals celebrated the 100th adoption of an Arriva Trains Wales station at Betws-y-Coed. Over two-thirds of the company’s 190 unstaffed stations have been adopted by local volunteers, eight of which are on the Conwy Valley Line. Station adopters carry out regular spot checks relating to the tidiness and cleanliness of the station, in addition to those already undertaken by Arriva Trains Wales. Any issues that may need addressing are then passed on to the local station manager. In return, adopters are offered travel vouchers for use on the Arriva Trains Wales network.