Earlier in the year we told OX readers about the amazing charity Horatio’s Garden established in memory of Horatio Chapple by his parents, Dr Olivia Chapple and David Chapple.
It had been Horatio’s dream to create a garden for people suffering with spinal injuries to use with their families whilst they endured long, hard months of ongoing treatment. Tragically Horatio was killed whilst on a school expedition to Svalbard. However, following an outpouring of love and support, donations for his garden flooded in and the first garden was created by award-winning six times Chelsea gold medal winner Cleve West.
And, at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, garden designers Harris Bug Studio created a wheelchair accessible garden, and they have been awarded the Best in Show 2023 accolade for their work. Horatio’s Garden is the first fully accessible garden to win such a prestigious award.
On selecting this year’s winner, RHS Chair of Show Garden Judges Marie-Louise Agius said: “The standard of the Show Gardens this year was extremely high. What particularly stood out about The Horatio’s Garden was how the design had been driven by the end user, to be experienced by spinal injury patients from a bed or wheelchair. The garden is uplifting, beautiful, and considered and for someone who has had a life altering spinal injury it will provide them with a wonderful sanctuary. The brief and the garden were delivered at an exceptional level.”
Congratulations to all the people involved in creating this wonderful garden which will be relocated to form the heart of Horatio’s Garden Sheffield after the show closes. Over the years, Horatio’s legacy has continued to grow, and the charity now has six gardens around the country (with two further gardens coming soon), located at specialist spinal units. All of which have been designed by award-winning garden designers.
To find out more about the charity visit horatiosgarden.org.uk
