A HOME-GROWN charity in Salisbury is helping sow the seeds to help even more people with spinal injuries across the country.

Horatio's Garden was set up in memory of Bishopstone schoolboy Horatio Chapple, who was killed by a polar bear in Svalbard when he was on an expedition in 2011 when he was 17.

He wanted to be a doctor and volunteered at the spinal centre in Salisbury.

The charity creates gardens for spinal injury patients and their families at NHS spinal injury centres.

They are used to provide different activities including gardening to help with patients' recovery and rehabilitation.

Horatio's family opened the first garden in September 2012 at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre at Salisbury District Hospital, which has become a lifeline for patients and their families.

The charity has now set it sights on establishing its next two gardens at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Scotland later this year and Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury in 2017.

Fundraising campaigns have started for the projects, which has transformed the cause into a national one.

Horatio's mother and the charity's chairman of trustees Dr Olivia Chapple said: "We aim to have one Horatio's Garden at every spinal unit."

The charity has attracted support from renowned garden designers James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift, who have designed these latest gardens.

“The charity has started as a result of the huge community support for the idea in Salisbury.“ said Dr Chapple. "We are so grateful to everyone who continues to support Horatio’s Garden at Salisbury District Hospital, which enables us to maintain the beautiful garden and run the events and activities which are so important for spinal injury patients. Salisbury will always be the flagship for the charity.”

The charity has a busy year of events planned to boost funds, including a food fair and jazz garden party.

James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift will also be doing a fundraising talk for Horatio's Garden titled Healing Gardens on March 10 at Salisbury Arts Centre.

For more information about the charity go to horatiosgarden.org.uk