Tanfield Railway Strikes Gold at Prestigious Northumbria in Bloom Awards

Tanfield Railway is celebrating a remarkable achievement after winning a prestigious Gold award and being named Best in Class (Bus, Metro, and Railway Stations) at the annual Northumbria in Bloom awards ceremony, held on Wednesday at The Fed in Gateshead.

Northumbria in Bloom, a founding region of the renowned RHS Britain in Bloom campaign established in 1964, is one of the North East’s most respected horticultural and community competitions. Recognizing excellence across horticulture, environmental responsibility, and community participation, the awards showcase the very best floral displays and environmental stewardship across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham.

Judges praised Tanfield Railway for its standout volunteer community spirit, its active collaboration with local schools and community organizations, and its skill in blending vibrant floral displays with the railway’s authentic 1920s–1950 heritage theme. The top regional accolade caps off an extraordinary year for the world's oldest railway, which recently celebrated national recognition at the Heritage Railway Association awards by securing both Railway of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year.

Angela Pickering, Tanfield Railway Trust Secretary, who led the Northumbria in Bloom application, said:

"We were over the moon to win Gold and even more so Best in Class. There is so much work that goes into maintaining the railway, and this is a true credit to everyone involved. Countless hours go into making our stations look great, and we owe a special thanks to all of the groups who have helped us, in particular Stanley Town Council, who have supported us for a number of years."

Geoff Sharp, Tanfield Railway volunteer gardener, said:

"I'm still beaming now. We have won silver gilt for the last few years, and to get Gold this year after so much hard work is the cherry on the top. We are just a small team who look after the gardens and estates, so this is credit to everyone involved.

"We've worked with so many people and groups along the way, and it's great to see visitors comment on the lovely hanging baskets, floral displays, and well-kept stations and grounds. We're not going to rest on our laurels though—we have to maintain our winning streak for next year!"

There is still plenty of time for visitors to see the award-winning grounds in person, as the railway runs heritage steam trains every Sunday until 18th October, offering a wonderful opportunity to experience the scenic line and admire the vibrant floral displays before the main season draws to a close. Behind every award and immaculate display is a passionate team, and Tanfield Railway is always on the lookout for new volunteers to lend a hand—whether in the gardens, maintaining the grounds, or supporting other areas of the heritage line. Anyone interested in joining the award-winning team is encouraged to visit https://tanfield-railway.co.uk/volunteer/.