A Fresh Start For Charity Project Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville The beloved garden, created by awardwinning designer and BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Joe Swift, has welcomed a brand new team this January
people with nature, inspiring them to see its beauty, resilience and adaptability, as well as showing them how incredible the natural world is.”
The nation’s recent cold snap means a fair few of us have grown used to a fresh start or two, but unlike the majority of people, the new team at charity project Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville are excited to embrace the cold.
The Kew-trained horticulturalist, who has 15 years of experience working in public gardens from Cornwall to New Zealand, will be responsible for nurturing the garden, supporting patients throughout their rehabilitation and leading the charity’s incredible volunteer team, with support The vibrant charity creates beautiful, from another recent arrival, Debs Grigg. accessible gardens in NHS spinal injury centres to support patients, their loved ones Debs too has an abundant interest in and NHS staff affected by spinal injury. To gardening. As well as being a fantastic date they have opened five gardens, with a administrator and events organiser, she further two in Cardiff and Northern Ireland is currently embarking on her Level 2 RHS currently in development. course and as such will be a wonderful source of help to everyone enjoying the Opening in 2018, Horatio’s Garden garden. Stoke Mandeville marked the successful completion of the inspirational charity’s third Of course, warmly welcoming Amy and Debs project. Since then, the stunning sanctuary also means the charity are saying ‘goodbye’ has gone from strength to strength, to the current team, Head Gardener, Jacqui becoming an integral part of the care offered Martin-Löf, and Garden Administrator, Anna at the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) Lockwood. in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, as well as a vital lifeline for everyone throughout the Both Jacqui and Anna have been absolutely Coronavirus crisis. phenomenal in establishing Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville, ensuring that it has been Now, this stunning sanctuary and everything an endless fountain of warmth and kindness it represents is being passed to the gentle, for people adjusting to life-changing injuries caring hands of new Head Gardener, Amy and the NHS staff who work on the ward. Moffett, and new Garden Administrator, Debs Grigg. Together, they continued to work throughout lockdown to keep the garden open. This was Speaking on her first day in her new role, essential for patients’ physical rehabilitation Amy shared “I am absolutely delighted to be and mental health, particularly as the rest of joining the team here at Horatio’s Garden the hospital was shut for their safety and as Stoke Mandeville. My passion is connecting they were unable to see their families and
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Head Gardener Amy (above) has nothing but praise for her predecessors, saying “Jacqui and Anna have clearly had such a positive impact during their time here and in taking the reins now I hope to continue to help facilitate positivity and hope for many more patients with spinal injuries into the future.” Whilst Jacqui will be leaving Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville to begin an aspirational new life establishing an animal sanctuary in Cornwall and Anna plans to concentrate on her career, the two will still be very much involved with the charity. Jacqui is going to continue as a part of the team, fulfilling her role as Head Gardeners Leader and meanwhile Anna is going to devote her free time to volunteering in the Stoke Mandeville garden. The dedication and enthusiasm of Amy, Jacqui, Debs and Anna stands testament to the magic of Horatio’s Garden; once you’ve had the privilege of experiencing it, it’s impossible to be anything other than spellbound.
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friends. Similarly, the garden has offered every incredible NHS staff member the chance to briefly escape the increased pressures of the ward throughout these particularly difficult times.
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