Horatio's garden

 National garden scheme

Creating and nurturing gardens targeted towards those with spinal injuries.

"The charity is named after Horatio Chapple. Horatio volunteered at the spinal centre in Salisbury and had the vision of a garden for all those connected to the centre. Horatio’s life was cut short in 2011 at the age of 17. For Horatio’s family, friends and those touched by his life, these evolving gardens, which offer sanctuary, improve wellbeing and become so significant to those affected by spinal cord injury, are his legacy. Dedicated head gardeners, staff and volunteers ensure the gardens look incredible all year round as well as organising activities and events, including garden and art therapy, music concerts and plenty of tea and homemade cake." National garden scheme

Horatio's gardens along side Maggie's centers are exemplary gardens that target enhancing the standard of life for patients and bettering their mental health. My dissertation on the importance of healing gardens for children is only highlighted by these precedents, it is proof that there are ongoing projects implementing the theory of biophilia and Ulrich's findings but this is something the world needs more of. 

Instead of donations and volunteers in these gardens, it should be seen a necessity for hospitals to have healing gardens where budget is allocated and jobs are created to maintain and design these gardens as a standard across all hospitals. 

It is pleasing to see they do exist but disappointing that they have not yet received the recognition they so dearly deserve. I hope healing gardens are given a place in the health care industry within my lifetime.