Hands-on approach in garden

For their handprints are set to mark a proposed feature which will act as a memorial to the brave youngsters.

Caring Today, which supports 100 children with learning and physical disabilities or terminal illness, as well as their families, is creating the garden in Nelson's Victoria Park.

The youngsters came up with the idea after complaining they did not have a play area of their own and wanted somewhere children of all abilities could enjoy. The children, their families, charity staff and Pendle Council's parks department set about designing the feature and after considering a Harry Potter themed garden came up with features based on the story of the Pendle Witches.

The garden features will include a witches' coven, haunted cave, family trees and Lancaster Castle - where the handprints of every child will be set in wet cement to form the permanent memorial.

Caring Today manager Feeraz Begum said: "One of the things parents and children wanted was Lancaster Castle and it's going to have hand prints of all the children at Caring Today.

"Some are terminally ill and this will be a remembrance for them. As long as the sensory garden is there our children will be remembered. It's something that's going to stand there for years to come."

The garden will be planted with a range of colours, surfaces and herbs which should release their scent when wheelchairs go over them. The features will also be interactive with the family trees and bat tunnel squirting water as people pass.

Caring Today started working on the sensory garden two years ago and funding has been provided by Pendle Council's canal corridor scheme, Grant Scape, McDonalds and Fort Vale.

But the charity still needs £15,000 to complete the garden, which Feeraz hopes will be open in May, and is appealing for sponsorship.

If anyone wants to contribute to the cost of the project, contact Caring Today on 01282 726003 or email info@caring-today.org