A MEMORY garden to support people with dementia has been formally unveiled in Keighley.

The site, in Church Green, features plants aimed at invoking memories and stimulating the sense of smell.

There is also a seating area, with an Alzheimer’s Society logo installed in the paving.

And an information board gives more details about the garden.

The area will be maintained by Keighley Town Council.

A number of groups and businesses have been involved in the initiative.

Among them were Bradford Council, Keighley Business Improvement District, the area committee, Dementia Friendly Keighley, Keighley in Bloom and Healthy High Streets.

The official opening was carried by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Keighley councillor Zafar Ali, and town mayor Councillor Fulzar Ahmed.

Cllr Ali said: “I was delighted to help open the garden.

“It will benefit both young and old, something which I want to be a theme during my time as Lord Mayor.”

Dementia Friendly Keighley (DFK) said members living with the condition had contributed ideas to the project.

Sandra Kelly, for the organisation, added: “The garden will have colour and fragrance all year round due to the imaginative and well-thought-out planting arrangement.

“Its memory board is great for reminiscing, with some lovely pictures of landmarks of days gone by alongside a few key points about living with dementia.”

Steve Seymour, chairman of DFK, praised all those involved in bringing the venture to fruition.

He added: “It’s great to see the garden completed.

“It is now a space for the community, and particularly people living with dementia, to use.

“This project has been a four-year team effort and without everyone’s commitment it could not have happened.”

Saira Ali, team leader in landscape, design and conservation at Bradford Council, helped secure the funding for the scheme.

She said: “We were asked to help create a garden in the town centre that would simultaneously meet the needs of people with dementia and the general population.

“It needed to incorporate six key design principles. It had to be familiar, accessible, legible, distinct, safe and comfortable.

“We were able to deliver this amazing space using funding we had secured from the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.

“The objective of the plan is to enhance the quality of life of people living in, working in and visiting Keighley. This scheme does all that and much more!”

Pippa Chapman, from Those Plant People in Steeton, worked on creating the designs.