Garden is growing to be a big hit (From Keighley News)

Garden is growing to be a big hit

10:00am Saturday 25th August 2012 in Keighley By Miran Rahman

A pair of planting days to create a new Keighley community garden triggered an enthusiastic response despite wet weather during the second session.

Dozens of volunteers turned out both days to support the Keighley Garden of Life project, which aimed to design and build the garden in the Beechcliffe area of Cliffe Castle Park. The site was previously an open, grassed area. The new garden will be opened next Saturday.

Jo Prowse, who started the project, said: “We had the first planting day on August 12 and the second on August 19. Seventy-six people came to the first day and despite the pouring rain we had forty-one people at the second day.

“Someone brought samosas and sweet rice for us while we were working, which was wonderful. It was great to see people from the community from so many different backgrounds pulling together to make the garden grow.

“They’ve dug a wildlife pond, built two picnic tables, three arbour seats and three raised beds which have been planted up with herbs, vegetables and flowers.

“We’ve also created a spiral stepping-stone footpath along with a bird and bat trail.

“It’s beginning to look like a real garden. Our next and last planting day is this coming Sunday.

“We will have a celebration party from noon till 3pm at the garden on September 2. The official opening of the garden will be at 2pm - everybody is welcome.”

People can find out more by visiting keighleygardenoflife.blogspot.com or facebook.com/keighleygardenoflife.