sustainability · July
Dr Olivia Chapple on the Healing Power of Horticulture
Horatio's Garden won Best in Show at RHS Chelsea 2023. Dr Olivia Chapple on gardens designed for spinal-injury patients — and why it works.
Everything in a Horatio's Garden space has been designed to access the benefits of being outdoors and amongst plants, without reminding users of their disability. This is the ethos championed by Dr Olivia Chapple as Chair of the Trustees of Horatio's Garden charity.
If you'd not heard of Horatio's Garden before 2023, you will most likely have seen coverage of their Best in Show garden at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, the garden is now in the process of being transferred to the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.
"It's about subtle accessibility. You can use the garden as you would if you were an able-bodied person. It doesn't remind you of your disability. It's layered planting, so that you can enjoy it from standing, from sitting or from lying down in a bed." — Dr Olivia Chapple
A growing charity
The first Horatio's Garden opened at the Spinal Treatment Centre at Salisbury Hospital in September 2012. As of spring 2023, there are seven gardens at spinal units around the UK, with the RHS Chelsea show garden being the eighth. The aim is to eventually have one in all 11 NHS spinal injury units in the UK.
Chatting to Olivia on the podcast
Olivia joined me, Roz, on The Cut Flower Podcast in the summer of 2023 to talk about how the charity and its work has grown in the past few years — with outreach events, a partnership with The National Garden Scheme, and an online shop offering gorgeous HG branded, garden-related products (I admit, I reached for the Add to basket button as soon as I saw the limited-edition Emma Bridgewater mug).
🎧 Listen to the episode on The Cut Flower Podcast — or via your preferred podcast provider.
Ready to volunteer?
Horatio's Garden is a charity and completely voluntarily funded. If you're inspired by their work and interested in helping out, they are always looking for volunteers — whether working in the garden, supporting an event or fundraising. More information and contact details for volunteering is on their website.
For more conversations on flowers, growing and the healing power of nature, subscribe to The Cut Flower Podcast.
Roz
