The Harris Bugg Studio garden at RHS Chelsea will be the eighth garden created by the charity
1. Salisbury, 2012
Designed by Cleve West
Horatio’s Garden South West opened in 2012 at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury District Hospital. The spinal centre serves patients from across the whole of the south of England.
- Cleve West used Horatio Chapple’s original research as the starting point for his designs.
- Cleve knew the hospital well as his friend had been a patient there. He even went around the site in a hospital bed and wheelchair in order to gain a patient’s perspective.
2. Scotland, 2016
Designed by James Alexander-Sinclair
Horatio’s Garden Scotland opened in 2016 at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow. The spinal centre serves patients from across Scotland.
- The design is divided into six distinct spaces, each with a different purpose. The varied areas were created to stimulate the senses, primarily focussing on sight, smell and touch.
James Alexander-Sinclair says this garden is his all-time favourite. He often visits and admits, “invariably and unashamedly, I cry every time I go there.”
3. Stoke Mandeville, 2018
Designed by Joe Swift
The third garden opened at the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The spinal centre is one of the largest and oldest in the UK serving people from across the British Isles and Ireland.
- Designer Joe Swift says this garden is “the most important garden I’ve ever designed.”
- An accessible greenhouse has been specially equipped for patients to grow their own plants, whilst the raised beds are used for garden therapy sessions.
“Here is something that offers people hope, change and growth and has the capacity to transform the lives of patients with spinal injuries”
4. Midlands, 2019
Designed by Bunny Guinness
Horatio’s Garden Midlands is at the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries in the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital serving North Wales, Mid-Wales, South Mersey, Cheshire and The West Midlands.
- The design incorporates a magnolia tree, which was planted by the hospital’s namesake, Dame Agnes Hunt, generally recognised as the first orthopaedic nurse who pioneered the benefits of nature to people’s health and recovery.
- All Horatio’s Gardens feature Aruncus ‘Horatio’ .
5. London & South East, 2020
Designed by Tom Stuart-Smith
The fifth Horatio’s Garden opened in 2020 at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore.
6. Wales, 2022
Designed by Sarah Price
Horatio’s Garden Wales at The Welsh Spinal Cord Injury and Neuro Rehabilitation Centre in University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff admits patients from across south and mid-Wales.
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The elevated garden has sea views and a garden room and is very close to the ward, ensuring high dependency patients can use the garden in their hospital beds.
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Horatio’s Garden Wales is home to a scented garden, meadow garden, vegetable garden and a flower garden.
7. Northern Ireland, tbc
Designed by Andy Sturgeon
Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland will be located at The Spinal Cord Injuries Unit (SCIU) which is located in the Withers Building at Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast.
- Designer Andy Sturgeon says, “It was an enormous privilege to be asked to do this project. As a garden designer, it’s very unusual to get an opportunity to have such a positive and fundamental impact on people’s lives. This garden, I feel, will make a real difference.”
Horatio’s Garden at RHS Chelsea designed by Harris Bugg Studio is being relocated to The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield in 2024.
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