CHEQUES totalling almost £30,000 have been handed over to four charities in the district from the charitable arm of the Telegraph & Argus, the sister paper of the Ilkley Gazette and Wharfedale Observer.

The Gannett Foundation, operated by the Gazette and Observer’s US parent company Gannett, invited deserving candidates to apply for a grant to help provide services in the district.

A number of local organisations applied and four were selected, receiving the news of their successful bids shortly before Christmas. Among the charities to benefit was the Friends of High Royds Memorial Garden in Menston who received £5,000 to create a sensory garden.

In its application the group detailed how in the eight years since the charity was formed the former derelict site has attracted favourable attention.The Friends said: “The intention in 2019 is to create a sensory garden. The memorial garden, which has been designed to allow disabled access, will have a specially-designed sensory section incorporated to appeal to, and help, those who are sight-impaired or are suffering from dementia-related issues.

“The raised beds will be constructed in York stone to match some existing flower beds and will allow level access for wheelchairs from the main pathways. The beds will be filled with plants to stimulate the senses – using colour, scent, texture and sound.

“Several hundreds of people will benefit directly and thousands indirectly.”

When the funding was announced, Ron Sweeney of the Friends of High Royds Memorial Garden said: “The restoration is due to the help of many willing volunteers and now this generous grant, especially coming at Christmas time, will help us in 2019 to make the garden even more attractive and accessible.”

The Gannett Foundation awarded a total of £30,000 in grants in 2018 to 50 good causes in communities served by Newsquest newspapers. T&A editor Nigel Burton visited High Royds to hand over the cheque.