The planting on-site at Horatio’s Garden Wales caught the attention of the team at ITV Wales at Six, with Kate Lewis visiting University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff to see how everyone was getting on, appeal patron and Wales Rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards included!

 

Following a lovely introduction from anchor Jonathan Hill, the piece opened with Amanda Harris, who seven years ago spent seven months in the Welsh Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre, which was formerly located at Rookwood Hospital. 

Amanda, who some of you will know from her incredible fundraising feats, including her 150-mile at-home cycle challenge, as well as her current epic undertaking to navigate all 871 miles of the Wales Coast Path, shared that she still remembers the first moment she was taken outside the ward. Having spent three of her seven months in hospital on bed rest, it was the power of nature that helped her dark thoughts to be lifted.

 

As Kate says, that’s the heart of what’s happening at the site of Horatio’s Garden Wales, which is now progressing nicely and is becoming ever more reflective of two-time RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winner Sarah Price’s original design. 

It was certainly a joy to welcome Sir Gareth Edwards too, who happily took up a spade alongside our brand new Head Gardener, Owen Griffiths, and the enthusiastic volunteer team. 

As Sir Gareth said in the ITV report, “We’ve talked about this for what seems an eternity and all of a sudden you can almost sense what it’s going to be like. It’s all set for a very successful future.”

Kate went on to explain a little more about what we do and how the gardens, as well as the therapeutic activities run by the charity, will be supporting people affected by spinal injury from across Wales as they begin to look towards the future.

  

Founder & Chair of Trustees, Dr Olivia Chapple, elaborated in her interview, discussing the physical and mental challenges of a spinal cord injury whilst simultaneously explaining how Horatio’s Garden Wales will soon help patients and their loved ones throughout this extraordinarily difficult time. 

As Kate says, Horatio’s Garden Wales will rely on the public’s continual support, so if you’re interested in donating, becoming a Friend, fundraising or volunteering, please click the relevant links to find out more. 

We’re enormously grateful to the ITV Wales at Six team and hope they’ll return for the garden’s official opening early next year!