THE Sensory Garden at the Care Village, in Lumphinnans, is nearing completion with the project geared to providing residents suffering from dementia key assistance making huge strides in recent months.

This was all started by Lochgelly man, and Arbroath football manager, Dick Campbell, after he had seen what positive benefits a similar facility had provided for his mother at a care home in Dunfermline.

He launched the fundraising campaign two years ago and it has received excellent support from the public and business community.

The new Care Village, in Cedar Crescent, opened last year and work on creating the garden started soon after, but really went into full swing in the spring.

Dick has had a number of local people helping him with the project and one of them, Ron Shevas, explained how things have been developing.

The Care Village, which replaced Valley House Care Home in Cowdenbeath and Jenny Gray House in Lochgelly, has two elements to it, a 60 person capacity residential home, Lindsay House, and Cedar House, a 30 flat sheltered housing section and the Sensory Garden is situated within the former's grounds.

Said Ron: "It is still an ongoing project with a few things to be completed, but it is coming on very nicely.

"All the paths have been done and most of the planting done which as the photographs show has produced a colourful scene.

"We have taken out a contract with a local company to help maintain the garden over the next couple of years and we are engaging with the pupils and staff of Lumphinnans Primary School to see if we can find a name for the garden and we hope to have a special opening in October."

Ron explained that to date around £40,000 has been spent on creating the garden and there is money available in the kitty for additions to it and to pay for the maintenance of the facility which already has been enjoyed by many residents of the Care Village.