Horatio’s Garden made accessible for NHS Spinal Centre

Stanmore is a popular residential area, in the London Borough of Harrow, and is home for many at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, which is one out of only 11 Spinal Cord Centres in the UK.

Horatio’s Garden is a national charity known and loved for their beautiful gardens in various NHS Spinal Injury Centres built to support those affected by spinal damage.

The charity has strong values that focus on the patient’s overall wellbeing by showing empathy, commitment, and inspiration. Their gardens are innovative with a huge amount of support from donations, trustees, and volunteers, over the years they have built integrity in a professional manner and have a positive mindset for sustainability to ensure their gardens will stand the test of time for years of enjoyment.

Horatio’s Garden is named after a young boy named Horatio Chapple, full of ambition to be a Doctor and spent his spare time volunteering at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury. Sadly, he was taken in a tragic incident when travelling which received an overwhelming amount of love and support - that is when the fundraising began with donations for a garden to be created in his honour. Horatio's legacy continues to grow and is helping patients, families, and NHS staff throughout the UK.

The existing garden at the RNOH in Stanmore needed updating, whilst it had an outdoor area to escape in, the garden lacked shelter and private areas. The pathways were found difficult to navigate hospital beds around and wheelchairs would get stuck against the cobbled block paving, walking was not accessible either due to various dips and uneven paving areas.

In early 2020, building work began on London’s Horatio’s Garden for the Spinal Cord Injury Centre, located in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore. This was the 5th garden the charity had transformed. SureSet were contacted by ARJ Construction and invited to quote for the proposed pathway and courtyard areas at Stanmore.

Designer Tom Stuart-Smith wanted to create a garden that was safe and easy to move around, ensuring it was inviting and social whilst including key quiet areas in and around the soft flowing curves within the garden design itself.
‘’SureSet were committed to ensuring that the best-finished product was achieved, on a project where precision was paramount.  Professional, helpful and polite throughout, from concept to aftercare.’’

Max Harriman, Tom Stuart-Smith Ltd
We were pleased to be part of the creation, the garden now has a sense of calm, somewhere for patients to escape. The nature surrounding the resin bound pathways and new planting areas certainly capture a special peaceful sanctuary away for the clinical environment, making patients feel more relaxed, taking their troubles away.

Spinal injuries are life-changing and patients find themselves in hospital recovering for a long period of time and a tranquil environment can really help with the rehabilitation, physically and mentally. The 683m² of smooth resin bound paving material in earthy tones of Bronze and Norwegian Pearl was taken from our Natural Aggregate range. The aggregates sourced by Long Rake Spar and the colour blends designed by SureSet really accentuate the curved lines defined by a superior flexible aluminium edging supplied by Kinley and alferpro. This garden is one of seven charity gardens in association with the NHS and their Spinal Cord Centres across the country, that are designed to be as beautiful as they are accessible – we certainly think they are all harmonious!