Horatio’s Garden
In the middle of Stoke Mandeville Hospital there is a tranquil oasis. Designed by Joe Swift, it has improved the lives of people with spinal injuries by creating and expertly staffing a beautiful garden here. Inspired by the tragic loss of Horatio Chappell who, at just 17, realised the huge value of fresh air and nature for patients who are confined for many months in spinal units. The charity Horatio’s Garden, established in his memory, opened its first wonderful garden in Salisbury where Horatio’s father David is a spinal consultant, and has so far made gardens at spinal units from Belfast to Glasgow, Sheffield to Stanmore, each designed by a top award winning garden designer.
I remember the joy at seeing the sky, after months of looking at the hospital ceiling, when my bed was wheeled outside into a grim concrete space at Stoke Mandeville. Now there is a peaceful space, surrounded by fabulous nature, with the sound of running water - a serene place away from the wards to have some precious privacy. Real rehabilitation.
