Lily Schleiker Blythe, the Head Gardener at Horatio’s Garden, Stanmore Hospital, gave a fascinating talk to the February meeting of Aldersbrook Horticultural Society. She told us how she gave up a career in TV production to retrain as a gardener. She had always been interested in nature and as a small child, helped her grandparents on their allotment. Lily trained at Capel Manor and as part of the WRAG (Work & Retrain as a Gardener) scheme, was able to obtain a number of training opportunities in lovely gardens, including volunteering at Tom Stuart Smith’s Garden at Serge Hill. She then worked with Ashley Edwards at Horatio’s Garden, Stanmore and when he moved on to work for Crocus Plants, she took over his job as Head Gardener.
Lily explained that each of Horatio’s gardens are attached to Spinal Injury Units. Spinal injuries are life-changing, with one injury occurring every 2 hours and 4,700 spinal injuries a year. There are 11 specialist centres in the UK; people with spinal injuries are likely to be in hospital for between 3 & 9 months and many longer than a year – there is a 4-fold risk of suicide and patients are likely to develop depression and anxiety. The opportunity to go outside into a garden is an attempt to address those issues
Horatio’s gardens were started in memory of Horatio Chapple, who, as a schoolboy, volunteered at the Spinal Unit at Salisbury Hospital – his ambition was to be a Doctor. In 2011, aged 17, Horatio was killed and it was decided to set up a garden in his memory at the Spinal Unit at Salisbury Hospital and donations poured in. This first garden was designed by Cleve West and, based on its success, a national charity – Horatio’s Gardens was set up. There are 11 spinal units around the country – eight gardens have been built, with the ninth now under construction. After Salisbury, a garden was created in Glasgow by James Alexander Sinclair, followed by a build by Jo Swift at Stoke Mandeville and one by Bunny Guinness at Oswestry. Others are in Cardiff, designed by Sarah Price, Belfast, designed by Andy Sturgeon, Sheffield, designed by Charlotte Harris (who spoke to the AHS in February 2025 about the Sheffield Garden). The 9th garden is being created in Middlesbrough by Pollyanna Wilkinson.
The garden in Stanmore was designed by Tom Stuart Smith and was opened in 2020. It contains 10,000 plants and 336 trees and shrubs. The garden is large, 2,000 square metres and it consists of pods where patients can go, a glasshouse and beautifully planted borders at waist level so that patients can help maintain the gardens. The paths are especially made to take wheelchairs and hospital beds. Patient – led activities take place in the garden.
One of the 35 volunteers at Horatio’s Garden at Stanmore, Liz, spoke about how she got interested in volunteering at the garden at Stanmore; gardening and helping with activities. Patients talk about the peace and quiet and sanctuary the garden gives them, as well as providing a lovely space for families to visit. Because the units are sparsely spread around the country, 84 miles is the average distance travelled by visitors to the spinal units. Research into the impact of the gardens has found that for 71% of patients, the garden provides a distraction from pain.
You can become a friend of Horatio’s garden for £10.00 a month – there are 2 Open Days a year. We are delighted to report that a stall selling goods for Horatio’s Garden at our meeting raised £600.00.