The suburban station of Woodsmoor is no longer simply the place to catch a train into the bustle of the big city. For the last five years, it’s been a place of pilgrimage for those who are keen to see what the owls are up to next.
In some dead trees near to the station, further down Ferndale Avenue, a number of owls have come to roost. Not real owls, but exquisite carvings that have been in situ since 2020, courtesy of the ingenuity and craft of local people, and the support of the train operators.
Andy’s inspiration
The story starts with Andy Stobbie, an active member of the Friends of Woodsmoor Station Group who lives on the same road as the station itself. In 2020, he watched as Network Rail cut down some dead trees that were on the embankment of the railway bridge and had an idea: this would be a lovely spot for a carved owl.
Tentatively broaching the idea with Network Rail, Andy was “pleasantly surprised when they said yes,” he explains. “We had already been planting the embankment with spring bulbs which everyone loved. I thought an owl would be a lovely addition.”
Andy contacted Steve Forde, then a CRP Officer, with his idea and the potential cost of an owl carving. Steve generously committed to providing a grant to fund the endeavour and the first owl took flight.
The result was a triumph. “I was so thrilled with the owl that I commissioned Tim Burgess, the artist, to make another large owl and two smaller ones immediately,” explains Andy. “We were fortunate to have these owls funded by Northern Rail, TfGM and some local benefactors. Tim [Burgess, the artist] then offered to make a tiny owl to fit the knot hole in the central trunk free of charge, to complete our ‘parliament’.”
Owl Appreciation
It didn’t take long for the wider community to spot – and fall in love with – the new owls. Andy put some Christmas hats on the owls during the festive period and received a huge reaction. “And that’s where it started – I just ran with it after that!”
From Cheshire Day to all the saint’s day on the calendar, Andy decorated the owls as festively as possible at every opportunity. “I got carried away and spent £65 on bunting and flags,” he admits. “We did St David, George, Andrew and Patrick Days, Bastille Day, and then I would think of other things such as sporting events like the Ashes or Lionesses games, or when Stockport County got to Wembley.”
Andy’s favourite owl moment so far was to mark the Eurovision Song Contest. “I bought some Beatles wigs and printed out some guitars to decorate them for ‘Eur-owl-vison’ and they became The BeatOwls, with Paul McCarTawny, John LennOwl, RingOwl Starr, George w’hoo-risson and Stuart S’hoot’cliffe (fifth Beatowl!).”
He has also been taking suggestions from enthusiastic station users. “Talk Like a Pirate Day was very silly but brilliant! The worse pun the better, I say!” Another local person generously made and donated a small fairy door for the base of the tree, which the younger passengers love.
“Now, people ask me how the owls are going to be dressed next,” Andy says. “If it puts a smile on people’s faces it’s worth doing. And it helps build a sense of community, it’s something we can share and enjoy together, and it makes our station unique too. I’m so glad I started it!”
At the time of writing, Andy was preparing the owls to mark St Andrew’s Day at the end of November (see below), and celebrate the success of the Scottish footbath team. Why not take a trip to admire them?
If your Friends Group is doing something interesting at your station, let us know!