Horatio’s Garden Salisbury has been voted by members of the British public as the National Garden Scheme’s ‘Nation’s Favourite Garden’ in the competition’s South West category. The award was collected by both Head Gardener Stephen Hackett and Horatio’s Garden founder and Chair of Trustees, Dr Olivia Chapple, who on Monday, 4th November attended the awards ceremony 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. With over 3,500 exceptional private gardens to choose from, it was certainly going to be a fierce competition!

Horatio’s Garden is a national charity which creates and nurtures beautiful gardens in NHS spinal injury centres to support everyone affected by spinal injury. Everyone involved with the charity was thrilled by the news that the Salisbury garden had been shortlisted and since the summer everyone has been eagerly awaiting the result of the public vote.

Speaking after the event, 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.” Echoing her sentiments, Head Gardener Stephen Hackett shared “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 Salisbury was brought to life by award-winning garden designer Cleve West and opened at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in 2012. For many years now Horatio’s Garden and the National Garden Scheme have had an ongoing partnership, which both organisations are extremely proud of.

The National Garden Scheme have generously donated £255,000 since 2015 to help the charity create and care for its beautiful accessible gardens, which now total four since Horatio’s Garden Oswestry opened in 2019. In return, Horatio’s Garden have welcomed visitors to their stunning sanctuaries 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 to 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, or to donate to the charity, please visit www.horatiosgarden.org.uk