Glynis Peat (Clinical Director of Neurorehabilitation and Spinal Injuries), Nicola Wilson (Horatio's Garden North Appeal Ambassador) and Dr Olivia Chapple OBE EMH (Founder of Horatio's Garden) together at the proposed site of Horatio's Garden North
Nicola Wilson, the European and Olympic medal-winning event rider has returned to the specialist rehabilitation centre where she spent five months in 2022 following a fall at Badminton Horse Trials. The new appeal ambassador for pioneering charity Horatio’s Garden, she met with people with spinal injuries and NHS staff at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough to view new plans of a beautiful garden that will support the recovery of other people with life-changing injury.
Horatio’s Garden North will care for people from a catchment of 1.4M across North Yorkshire, Tees Valley, Cumbria and Northumberland – and will be the ninth garden created by Horatio’s Garden, which builds and looks after extraordinary gardens in the heart of NHS spinal injury centres across the UK. The gardens can transform rehabilitation by offering a place for adjustment, reflection, privacy, solace, joy and companionship.
Northallerton-based Nicola was awarded an MBE in December and is now coaching and mentoring riders of all levels. She said: “Having spent my life outdoors, I found being in the hospital so hard after my injury and craved to be outside. When the medical team pushed me outside in my bed for the first time, I could feel normal, have the sun on my face, see the bees and hear the birds. To have a dedicated garden to provide this pure magic every day, to find companionship in others and a peaceful and private place for families to visit will be transformative for people in the spinal injury centre.”
Dr Olivia Chapple, Founder and Chair of Trustees said: “We are incredibly grateful to Nicola for her support as our Appeal Ambassador. These gardens are critical for people’s rehabilitation with evidence showing they improve mental and physical health, distraction from pain, sleep and long-term activity. We can’t wait to bring these benefits to the thousands of patients, as well as families and NHS staff who will use the garden every year at Middlesbrough.”
Horatio’s Garden North is being designed by acclaimed landscape designer Pollyanna Wilkinson who has won RHS medals at both Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. She is working in collaboration with EBBA architects to transform a large hospital courtyard and roof terrace into an incredible garden featuring a large warm garden room and garden pod for all-year-round use and glasshouse and raised beds for horticultural therapy. The garden will draw inspiration from the rugged beauty of the north of England — its moors, coastline, and expansive outdoors— as well as the region’s rich industrial and local heritage.
Horatio’s Garden is entirely funded by public donations. Thanks to the generosity of donors including National Garden Scheme, the Julia Rausing Trust and the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we are on our way to reaching our fundraising target but are still looking for support to bring this garden to life.
