In Spring 2025, Paul Vickers, station adoption lead at Stocksfield Railway Station, and our officer, Fiona Forsythe held a rail safety event with the 1st Stocksfield Beavers. This was part of the national Platforms for Change initiative, which links community rail and scouting to engage and empower scout groups through a range of activity, station projects and rail confidence trips.
During the evening, there was a suggestion that the Beavers create some bug hotels to be installed at the
station. Whilst walking from their scout hut to the railway station to see where hotels could be placed, they also considered the safe walking routes for people going to the station.
The eleven Beavers took on the challenge creating six bug hotels which were presented to Paul so they could be installed at the station.
Sarah Wing, Beaver Leader “The Beavers decided to create bug hotels for the local train station to support the wildlife but also as something nice for the local community to view. They worked in teams to research suitable habitats and searched at home and in the scout hut garden for the bug hotel materials before spending hours arranging their pine cones, bark, sheep wool and other materials into hiding places for insects in their bug hotels."
Paul Vickers, Station Adoption Lead said “It was great to meet with the Beavers to explore how our railway station can play a part in preserving local wildlife. They were so enthusiastic about being involved and loved spying out locations for the bug hotels around the station.”
The Beavers were awarded their Platforms for Change badges and by mid-October the first resident had moved in, a ladybird.
Stocksfield Beavers is the first group to participate in the Platforms for Change programme along the Tyne Valley Railway route. It is hoped that other groups will be encouraged to look at ways they can achieve a Platforms for Change badge.
Read more about Platforms for Change here. Contact our officer