Impressive pumpkin display raises spirits of Ambergate residents this Halloween

Pupils from Ambergate Primary School decorated more than 25 pumpkins and created an impressive, spooky display on the approach road up to Ambergate Station.

The school’s annual pumpkin carving competition was under threat due to Covid restrictions for indoor gatherings, until an offer from Ambergate Station Adopters to host the event.

The station group, with support from Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership and EMR, enabled the children to bring their pumpkin carvings to the station for display in the station garden.

The pumpkins were carved into a vast range of scary faces and creative creatures including an elephant, cat and octopus and formed part of an extensive Halloween display in the station garden area along with ghosts, skeletons, witches and fictional gravestones created by the Ambergate Station Adopters.

Claire from Ambergate Station Adopters said: “On behalf of the station adopters and all the children at Ambergate Primary, thank you so very much for your help and support, it means so much to our little community and made a real difference to us all in these very difficult times.”

Judges from the Community Rail Partnership and EMR awarded prizes across the different age groups with winners receiving tickets for family days out to Cromford Mill, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and Heights of Abraham along with complimentary train travel from EMR.

All the entrants received an EMR goodie bag including Derwent Valley Line Activity Book, balloons and pens.

EMR community ambassador Alexa Stott said: “EMR is delighted that Ambergate Primary School has been able to hold its annual pumpkin carving competition at Ambergate station.

"Community has never been more important in these exceptional times and it has been a pleasure to make this year’s event such a memorable one for the children and their families.”