Horatio's Garden Salisbury wins at National Garden Scheme competition

Head gardener Stephen Hackett and Horatio’s Garden founder and chair of trustees, Dr Olivia Chapple, collected the award during a ceremony on Monday (November 4) at the Garden Museum in London.

The event was hosted by the National Garden Scheme and The English Garden magazine who teamed up for the competition.

Throughout the summer, thousands of people nominated their favourite gardens, which all open their gates on behalf of the National Garden Scheme. There were more than 3,500 private gardens to choose from.

Dr Olivia Chapple said “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award and are so grateful to everyone who voted for us. It means a great deal to a great many and is a testament to the efforts of Stephen and the dedicated volunteer team who tend to the garden.”

Head gardener Stephen Hackett added: “It is such a privilege to work in a garden that is so tangibly loved by those who use it and it is wonderful to see that this appreciation and enthusiasm for the charity’s gardens is shared by people across the UK.”

Horatio’s Garden is a national charity which creates and nurtures gardens in NHS spinal injury centres to support those affected by spinal injuries.

Horatio’s Garden Salisbury was created by award-winning garden designer Cleve West and opened at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in 2012.

The National Garden Scheme has donated £255,000 since 2015 to help the charity create and care for its gardens, which now total four since Horatio’s Garden Oswestry opened in 2019.

Horatio’s Garden has also welcomed visitors to its sites in Salisbury, Glasgow and Stoke Mandeville annually on behalf of the National Garden Scheme and its Scottish equivalent, Scotland’s Garden Scheme.

Both charities champion the benefits of gardens for health and support each other to promote the positive impact gardens have on people’s wellbeing and mental health.

To find out more about Horatio's Garden go to horatiosgarden.org.uk