By Miranda Robertson

A project to tidy up the former Spetisbury railway station area and provide a lovely place to enjoy the countryside is in peril after volunteer numbers dwindled.

The remains of the station, along the North Dorset Trailway, have been worked on since 2012 by the Spetisbury Station Project Group, a Community Interest Company working under licence from Dorset Council.

Landscaping, benches and picnic tables have enabled people to enjoy the views over the Stour Valley. Volunteers excavated the remains of the station buildings and signal box, cleared decades worth of vegetation and created a pleasant green, wildlife-friendly space while keeping its station heritage alive with replica railway items.

They were hoping to provide a small café on one of the platforms. But sadly, a reduction in volunteers recently has meant that the small team has struggled to maintain the site to its usual high standard, and the group will not be able to continue work parties next year unless more volunteers come forward.

The group is looking for people willing to give up a few hours every other Sunday to help with grass and hedge cutting and tending the flower borders, also anyone able to maintain the timber platform furniture.

They would also welcome anyone able to take on the secretary, treasurer or membership roles and compile their annual accounts.

Project manager Dean Cockwell said: “We know that locals and visitors really appreciate the facilities and school children like writing letters to Santa using the post box that magically appears at the station every Christmas! We have several plans to further improve the site and look forward to being able to celebrate our tenth anniversary next year, if extra help is forthcoming.”

Spetisbury station opened on the Dorset Central Railway between Wimborne and Blandford on November 1, 1860, later becoming part of the famous Somerset & Dorset line from Bath to Bournemouth. It was downgraded to an unstaffed halt on August 13, 1934, and closed altogether on September 17, 1956 along with other nearby halts at Corfe Mullen, Charlton Marshall and Stourpaine & Durweston. The Somerset & Dorset line closed to passengers on March 6 1966, one of the largest victims of the Beeching railway cuts. The line from Broadstone to Blandford remained open for goods traffic until January 6, 1969. During the 1990s Dorset County Council established a path along the trackbed for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. Today this forms part of the North Dorset Trailway.

Go to http://spetisburystationproject.co.uk/ or email deancockwell@ntlworld.com.