FOBS Projects
The Community Hub
The Community Hub was the first FOBS Project (Phase 1). It has now been completed and is functioning fully.
Read More click on photo above
Gardening
The FOBS Gardening team are working hard to turn the waste land beteen the station and the caravan park into a wild flower, bee friendly strip.
Read More click on photo above
Restoration of the station
Restoration of Bishopstone Station started with Phase 1 which was the establishment of a new community hub within what was Linda's Stores, originally the parcel office. Read more click on photo above
Read more click on photo above
Friends of Bishopstone Station Community Food Project
One Saturday each month
Promotes food equality through opportunities for food and gardening education. Helping our community access healthy, locally sourced food, from the station garden and their own gardens.
Connecting people to better food through monthly events: plant and seed exchanges, talks on growing your own fruit and vegetables, cookery demonstrations. Establishing a herb garden at the station tended by local residents, creating a supply of fresh herbs for everyone to use.
Through our projects Friends of Bishopstone Station help residents of Bishopstone, Norton and West Seaford build a stronger community.
Integrated Travel Map for Bishopstone Station
New Curved Art Deco style window
New curved Critall Art Deco windows are to be installed at the front of the station building to replace the existing windows.
New Finger Signpost for Bishopstone Station
An Integrated Travel Map has been installed at Bishopstone station to encourage visitors to explore the wider community.
The illustrated map on the platform at the railway station shows travellers a range of nearby leisure pursuits from walking, cycling and horse-riding to swimming, sailing and sunbathing. It highlights rail and bus connections to and from the station on the Seaford to Brighton line in East Sussex.
The map is a joint project from the South Downs National Park, Community Rail Network, Southeast Communities Rail Partnership and the Friends of Bishopstone Station.
They asked Eastbourne-based project manager Robert McGowan to produce the map and he used illustrator Benjamin Phillips and graphic designer Sarah Macbeth, both from Hastings, to come up with the drawings.
Speaking at the launch of the map, Robert said: “This project was a lot of fun to work on.
I think the illustrated map gives an impression of what the landscape actually feels like – how the station is connected to the beach, the old village and the Downs.”
Allison Thorpe, strategy lead for access and recreation at the South Downs National Park Authority, commented: “Stations like Bishopstone are gateways to the South Downs National Park. That is why we were so pleased to work with the Friends of Bishopstone Station and the Community Rail Partnership to give people ideas for walks to the countryside and historic villages in the Downs and to show people how easy it is to explore the National Park by rail.”
Barbara Mine, chair of the Friends of Bishopstone Station, added: “We are so pleased to have received this integrated travel map. It puts people in the picture as to where they are and where they want to go to.”
Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “What a fantastic example of true partnership work, something Community Rail groups really do excel at. Connecting railways to their communities and the beautiful countryside which surrounds so many lines is so important to the future. I look forward to seeing the map.”
Southeast Communities Rail Partnership lines manager Catherine Simmons said: “The map is a very good example of collaboration between the designers and community groups working together to create a beautiful map.”