Blind Dave urges vote for new sensory garden

Dave - best known for being the first blind man to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days - said it would be fantastic for the money to come to Dartmouth Park in his home town of West Bromwich.

People have until midnight on 31 October to vote in the competition to win Groundwork UK's Transform Your Patch funding.

People can only vote by email or online through the Transform Your Patch website or on Facebook.

They can vote for one project in each region every day for the duration of the campaign period.

Dartmouth Park Sensory Garden is competing against three other projects in the West Midlands for £22,500.

The Friends of Dartmouth Park and Sandwell Visually Impaired (SVI) have been working hard on proposals for the garden and fund raising, including sponsored walks.

The sensory garden is being planned for a site next to the new pavilion so it will be in a very prominent location.

The Friends and SVI currently have a raised flower bed that they have planted and regularly maintain themselves.

Dave, who carried the Olympic torch this summer and took part in the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, said: "Dartmouth Park is the only project in this area competing for this funding.

"I remember the park when I was a child before I lost my sight.

"Now, I run and train most days in the park and take in the smells, the noise of kids having fun and feel a sense of pride as my running guides tell me of all the improvements as we pass by.

"My family and I really enjoy the park so I'm proud to support a fantastic project which gives pleasure to so many. I want everyone to join together and vote to bring this money here."

The sensory garden is aiming to stimulate senses for all visitors, the additional funding from Transform Your Patch would mean musical equipment and features could be added to it.        

Dartmouth is competing against projects from Nuneaton, Kenilworth and Hereford.