North Devon Cubs Earn Railway Safety Badge with Station Clean-Up

Barnstaple station is typically busy. Many Exeter trains are packed. But, February 25th was different. Some special visitors arrived that evening. They weren’t there to ride the train.

The 5th North Devon Cub Pack visited. They aimed to earn a new badge called Platforms for Change. The award promotes railway safety and is for Cubs and Scouts.

Akela Leon Morey and Tim Steer planned the visit. They needed GWR’s permission first. Great Western Railway then approved the visit. Everything was set for the Cub Scouts.

Melanie Harvey from GWR visited and gave the Cubs a safety talk. Then, she handed out GWR goody bags, which was amazing for the kids. Volunteers helped too.

These volunteers are station friends who improve the station every Tuesday. They are also known for awards and work to earn more. The group helped with the badge.

The Cubs learned about safety. Then, they donated bug houses, built from tins and sticks to encourage insect habitats. The houses went by the tracks.

Next, the Cubs picked up litter at the station and forecourt. They filled bags with rubbish, making the station cleaner. The Cubs then sorted the waste, learning to recycle items correctly.

The station has recycling bins, and they placed items in a plastic bag. Tim Steer was delighted and happy to invite the Cubs to earn their badge. He believes the station benefits the town, and community projects are great.

Leon Morey thanked GWR and the volunteers for their warm welcome. The Cubs learned about railway safety, and Tim awarded them a good badge. Volunteers placed the bug houses March 4th.

They put them behind the island platform on the redundant track bed. This provided a great spot. Other groups can earn the badge too, by contacting the 5th North Devon Cub Pack, who can tell them what to do.