Horatio’s Garden is named after Horatio Chapple, a schoolboy who wanted to be a doctor.
In 2010, Horatio volunteered at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury during his school holidays. Talking with patients he noticed there was a lack of outdoor space for patients with spinal injuries and their loved ones.
Patients in the spinal centre were unanimously enthusiastic about Horatio’s idea to create a garden. His parents, Dr Olivia Chapple and David Chapple FRCS, a spinal surgeon at Salisbury District Hospital, agreed that it was a brilliant concept and encouraged further research. Horatio devised a questionnaire to ask patients and staff what should be included in the space and how the garden would look.
Tragically, Horatio’s life was cut short in 2011 at just 17, when his camp was attacked by a polar bear whilst on an expedition to Svalbard. There followed an outpouring of love and goodwill, with donations flooding in for his garden to be created.
The first garden was designed by seven-time RHS Chelsea gold medal winner, Cleve West, who used Horatio’s original research as a starting point, opening in September 2012.
Following its enormous success, a nationwide charity was formed with the mission to create gardens in the ten outstanding UK spinal injury centres, each designed by a different leading landscape designer.
Horatio’s legacy has continued to grow and is now nurturing the wellbeing of thousands of patients, families and NHS staff throughout the UK.
Our Timeline
2024
- Work begins on the charity's eighth garden, Horatio's Garden Sheffield & East at Northern General Hospital, exactly one year since it began its life as the Best in Show winning garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.
2023
- Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland, designed by Andy Sturgeon, opens at Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast.
2022
- Rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards opens Horatio’s Garden Wales, at Llandough Hospital Cardiff designed by Sarah Price
2021
- Work is completed on a new garden room and extension of the woodland garden in Horatio’s Garden Scotland
2020
- Horatio’s Garden London & South East opens at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, located in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith
2019
- Horatio’s Garden Midlands at the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries opens, designed by Bunny Guinness
2018
- Designed by Joe Swift, Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville at the National Spinal Injuries Centre is opened by Mary Berry
2017
- HRH Princess Eugenie of York visits Horatio’s Garden Scotland
2016
- Horatio’s Garden Scotland, designed by James Alexander-Sinclair, opens at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow as the charity’s second garden
2015
- Cleve West wins three Society of Garden Designers Awards for Horatio’s Garden Salisbury
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2014
- BBC Gardeners’ World film at Horatio’s Garden South West
2012
- The first Horatio’s Garden at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury opens
2011
- Horatio Chapple volunteers in the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury and devises an idea to create a garden for patients and their families
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