Private tours of the acclaimed, fully accessible Horatio's Garden

Wednesday, 3 April 2024 01:00

Charity Horatio’s Garden has launched a new series of tours to Horatio's Garden at Salisbury District Hospital.

The tours will allow the public to visit Horatio’s Garden South West, one of the charity’s seven award-winning, fully accessible gardens.

Opening on selected dates from April to September, the public can book a date to visit Horatio’s Garden South West at Salisbury District Hospital. Opening in 2012, seven-time RHS Chelsea Gold Medal-winning designer Cleve West created the first of the charity's gardens.

Horatio's Garden South West (Image: Clive Nichols)

Led by Head Gardener Lucy Thorpe, the private tours offer visitors a special opportunity to explore this rarely opened garden and immerse themselves in the beautiful, restorative sanctuary designed to nurture the well-being 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 in 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 has opened seven stunning gardens in the NHS spinal injury centres in Salisbury, Glasgow, Stoke Mandeville, Oswestry, Stanmore (London), Cardiff, and Belfast.

Work is 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 the 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.

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