Nationwide charity Horatio’s Garden, which won a gold medal and Best in Show at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, has launched a new series of tours offering the public the chance to visit Horatio’s Garden South West, one of the charity’s seven award-winning, fully accessible gardens.
Opening on selected dates until September, the public can book a date to visit Horatio’s Garden South West at Salisbury District Hospital. Opening in 2012, the first of the charity’s gardens was created by seven-time RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winning designer, Cleve West.
Led by the Head Gardener Lucy Thorpe, the private tours offer people a special opportunity to explore this rarely opened garden and immerse themselves in the beautiful, restorative sanctuary designed to nurture the wellbeing of people after life-changing spinal injuries.
Visitors can discover the garden’s thoughtful design featuring an incredible variety of vibrant, uplifting plants. Those attending will also learn more about the charity’s vision to sustainably grow a thriving Horatio’s Garden in all 11 NHS spinal injury centres in the UK, and the positive impact gardens and gardening have on our wellbeing.
Tours cost £20 per person and include hot beverages and homemade cake, with a selection of plants and Horatio’s Garden merchandise on sale. All support the charity’s vital work to support patients and their loved ones rebuilding their lives following a devastating spinal injury.
Dr Olivia Chapple, Founder & Chair of Trustees of Horatio’s Garden said: “Led by our brilliant team of Head Gardeners, the tours will offer a rare opportunity to discover these beautiful, award-winning gardens created by world class designers and see how these environments can have a huge impact in supporting physical and mental health.”
To date, Horatio’s Garden have opened seven stunning gardens in the NHS spinal injury centres in Salisbury, Glasgow, Stoke Mandeville, Oswestry, Stanmore (London), Cardiff, and Belfast, with work due to begin on the charity’s eighth garden in Sheffield in May 2024. A distilled version of this eighth garden, designed by Harris Bugg Studio, won a Gold Medal and Best in Show at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.
To book your tour of Horatio’s Garden South West today, visit www.horatiosgarden.org.uk/garden-tours – please note that spaces are limited and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
May 23, 2024
July 11, 2024
August 15, 2024
September 19, 2024