MUCH was being done with flowers, trees and shrubs to beautify the railway stations of the Midlands at this time 100 years ago, according to Berrow's Journal for this week of December 1903.

"The Great Western Railway prides itself on its stations. For a quarter-of-a-century or more, there has been an organised system of competition between stations for prizes offered by the directors.

"The GWR authorities are pioneers in the movement, and to Midlanders their efforts in the Black Country are particularly interesting, especially as there is now a concerted scheme afoot to turn the black, grimy pit mounds into waving woodland.

Almost all stations throughout the district are glimpses of garden beauty amid dreary surroundings.

"The GWR Birmingham Division embraces an area as far south as Oxford and all the Black Country. One special prize is given to the best station in each division, and this year the award goes to Halesowen.

Its station has rockeries, holly and fir trees, rhododendrons, roses, lilacs, laurels, ferns, geraniums and other plants combining to make the borders that slope down to the station platforms a perfect picture of interwoven colour.

"Many of the prize-winning stations are in regions where smoke and dirt and factory stacks predominate, and particularly in such locations is the scheme for station beautification well worthy of encouragement.

"The chief prize in the Worcester district goes to what is, perhaps, the prettiest station on the whole GWR system. Removed from the village and hidden on the slope of a hill by orchards which run down to the Severn is the neat little station of Arley.

From Bewdley to Bridgnorth the railway line keeps company with the river, running through beautifully wooded country.

"In the very midst of this landscape is Arley station, and apart from its natural beauty, afforded by its situation, it is simply a blaze of colour in the summertime. It is a pleasure to go to Arley simply to halt at its station."