Dame Mary Berry, President Emeritus of the National Garden Scheme, and garden designer Joe Swift were among the guests celebrating 10 years of support and partnership between the National Garden Scheme and Horatio’s Garden this summer.
The tea party, held on Wednesday 11th June at Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville, marked 10 years and over £670,000 of support from the National Garden Scheme.
Commenting on the occasion, George Plumptre, Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme said: “The National Garden Scheme has been supporting Horatio’s Garden since 2015 helping the charity create and care for beautiful, accessible gardens in NHS regional spinal injury centres. In 2018, we committed funding for the completion of gardens at all 11 spinal injury units and are proud to be Horatio’s Garden’s largest single funder.”
Dame Mary Berry added: “I am delighted that the National Garden Scheme has made such an important contribution, and commitment, to Horatio’s Garden over the last 10 years. That visiting a garden and enjoying tea and cake can lead to such wonderful and continuing donations to so many good causes is one of the enduring qualities of the National Garden Scheme.”
Celebrated designer and National Garden Scheme Ambassador, Joe Swift is an RHS Chelsea Gold Medal Winner and has presented BBC Gardeners’ World since 1998. Despite his impressive contribution to the world of landscape architecture, Joe regards Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville as “the most important garden I’ve ever designed.” The knowledge that this garden would “affect hundreds of patients and their families and friends” made creating it “a real honour.”
His careful, thoughtful design was recognised by the prestigious Society of Garden Designers in 2021, winning the Healing, Learning or Community Landscapes & Gardens Award.
Returning to the garden this summer Joe said: “I always say it’s good for one’s soul to spend time outdoors in nature so seeing everyone using and enjoying the Horatio’s Garden I designed at Stoke Mandeville is humbling. Thank you to the incredible partnership and support of the wonderful National Garden Scheme.”
Commenting on the 10 years of partnership, Dr Olivia Chapple OBE, founder and Chair of Trustees of Horatio’s Garden said: “As our single largest funder, The National Garden Scheme has been absolutely instrumental in supporting Horatio’s Garden to change the lives of people going through the most challenging of times. From the brilliant garden owners opening their gardens in support to visitors, trustees and the amazing staff team, we are so grateful for their decade of incredible support. And looking ahead, their pledge to support the capital costs of our future gardens will help us ensure that no-one has to go through a life-changing spinal injury and spend months in hospital without being able to use a Horatio’s Garden. Thank you.”
We are so grateful to everyone who supported us and made this event possible. To NGS for all their incredible support, to Mary, Joe, and George for being with us, to Pure Patisserie for the beautiful cakes, Wild Bees Sax for the music, and of course to our amazing team, volunteers and every guest who came along to celebrate with us.
Watch our film marking this special occasion here
