A massive campaign to help build a special $2.5 million village offering disabled-friendly recreation and social opportunities has got underway.

And the newly-formed Friends of WindReach celebrated the first work on the Warwick site of the village with a glittering bash at Government House, hosted by the Governor, Lord Waddington, and Lady Waddington.

Now the Friends will get down to raising the cash needed for the centre from the community, big business and individual donations.

The WindReach Recreational Village was the brainchild of Scots-born Bermudian Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell, who has already opened a WindReach Farm for the disabled in Ontario, Canada.

The first phase, due to open in a year, will be a riding school and a petting zoo.

But in a four to five-year programme, those will be followed by an activity centre, a campsite, a playground and a picnic area.

Mr. Mitchell -- who was born with cerebral palsy and is himself disabled -- said: "I've lived in Bermuda nearly all my life and I wanted to do something for the Island.

"The success of the WindReach Farm in Canada made me want to do the same in Bermuda. And I've been overwhelmed by the response of the people here.'' Mr. Mitchell set up the WindReach Farm in Canada six years ago. It is a working farm, but fully accessible for the disabled, and in 1993 had more than 4700 visitors.

Mr. Mitchell, despite his own disability, works WindReach Farm, but insists he is a "hobby farmer.'' But he admitted: "I've done everything on the farm, you name it and I've done it. I've been an active person all my life and that's why I wanted to start the farm -- for people who have not been so fortunate as myself.'' Mr. Paul Sullivan, who helped Mr. Mitchell set up the Canadian farm, revealed that the Bermudian branch of the charity was already a third of the way to the target figure.

He said: "We have really tried to demonstrate to everybody that the village is a worthwhile project.'' And he added: "It's not just for the disabled. They will have priority, but integration is very important.

"It's good for a disabled person to have somewhere to take friends and relatives, or for disabled children to meet able-bodied ones in an environment which has been designed for them.'' Lord Waddington said he was delighted to allow the Friends of Windreach to launch their group at Government House.

He added: "We have always thought WindReach was a marvellous idea. When we were asked to allow supporters to have a do here, we immediately said `yes'' BIG PLANS -- The newly-formed Friends of WindReach examine the ambitious plans for the special recreational village for the disabled.

Left to right are Lady Waddington; Phyllis Harshaw, chairwoman of the Friends; Lord Waddington; Ann Lindroth, activities director for the project; Lord Waddington; Paul Sullivan, who helped set up the original WindReach Farm in Canada, and WindReach founder Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell.