TESCO customers in Ilkley have confirmed their wide support for the historic Ilkley Manor House by voting it the most worthwhile recipient of the latest Tesco Bags Of Money initiative.

Shoppers receive plastic tokens when they pay for their groceries and can choose to place them in one of three boxes to indicate which local charity they most wish to support. The winner receives up to £4,000 raised from the sale of plastic bags in store, the runner-up £2,000 and the third placed £1,000.

The Ilkley Manor House proposal to create a sensory garden and courtyard seating area captured the imagination of local shoppers and will now receive £4,000 to spend on herbaceous borders and planters that will help create an area of tranquility at this unique heritage site in the centre of Ilkley.

The new garden will celebrate the transfer of the historic Ilkley Manor House to the community earlier this year and there are ambitious plans to create a vibrant heritage and arts centre to be enjoyed by families, artists and visitors. Outside in the courtyard, users and passers-by will now be able to enjoy the sensory garden, which will also form a backdrop for open air performances and concerts.

“The Tesco scheme reveals where local shoppers most want their money to go and we’re thrilled that we’ve been confirmed as their favourite charity on this occasion,” said Sarah Thomas, chair of the Ilkley Manor House Trust. “Everyone in the town will benefit from this lovely garden and seating area and we couldn’t be more delighted. Thank you to everyone who voted for us.”

Designed to appeal to all the senses, the garden will include fragrant, colourful flowers and herbs as well as water and sensitively created sounds and also plants with interesting shapes and textures.

Tesco Ilkley retail store manager Sarita Prasher said: “We are absolutely delighted for the Manor House and look forward to seeing the plans come to fruition.”

Guardianship of the Grade 1 listed 14th century building was transferred to the Ilkley Manor House Trust for the people of Ilkley in early spring following a long campaign to save it after Bradford Council closed it due to lack of funds. There have since been a number of successful events and exhibitions, and most of the refurbished arts and office spaces in the adjacent cottages are now let, providing an income to support the building while grant applications are made to develop the unique local resource further.

There is an ongoing need for all sorts of volunteers to become involved in activities at the Manor House, which is a textbook illustration of how English houses developed between the Middle Ages and the ‘early modern’ period. Organisers are keen to hear from volunteer gardeners too. Anyone interested should visit the website at https://www.ilkleymanorhouse.org and go to ‘contact’ to leave their name and address details.