New appeal ambassador for Horatio’s Garden Sheffield
Horatio’s Garden, the charity that nurtures wellbeing after spinal injury, announces that British actor George Robinson will become an appeal ambassador for Horatio’s Garden Sheffield.
The garden will start its life as a show garden for the world-renowned RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May before moving to its permanent home at The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield in 2024.
George Robinson, well known for his role in the Netflix series Sex Education, visited the spinal injury centre to hear about the plans and enthusiasm for the new beautiful, accessible and therapeutic sanctuary. He met with Founder and Chair of Trustees Dr Olivia Chapple, award-winning landscape designer Hugo Bugg from Harris Bugg Studio along with patients and NHS staff.
Lincolnshire-based George spent seven and a half months in rehabilitation at the centre following a high-level spinal injury playing rugby in South Africa 2015.
He said: “Horatio’s Garden Sheffield will change the lives of patients and their families at what is a very challenging time. It would have immeasurably improved my personal experience at the centre. The benefits of being outside, immersed in nature and to have time away from the ward are so important both mentally and physically.”
Dr Olivia Chapple, Founder and Chair of Trustees of the charity said: “We are incredibly grateful to have George Robinson’s support to help us bring our eighth garden to life in Sheffield in 2024, where we know it will transform the lives of thousands of people. Our evidence shows how vital our gardens are for reflection and adjustment for people facing life-changing injuries and long stays in hospital.”
During his visit, George, along with patients and NHS staff, also cast his thumbprint as part of an initiative to collect a thousand imprints of those involved in the Horatio’s Garden community. These will be displayed as an artwork within the garden at Chelsea and then Horatio’s Garden Sheffield.
Hugo Bugg, co-designer with Charlotte Harris of Horatio’s Garden Sheffield and Chelsea said: “It has been very valuable to meet with George and hear about his time in the spinal centre at Sheffield. We have listened to spinal injury patients, their loved ones and NHS staff over many months so that every element of our garden design reflects the experiences of wheelchair users and those who have experienced traumatic spinal injuries. Our garden will be a place of sanctuary and hope, layered with meaning and a place of true respite from the challenges of life on a busy spinal ward.”
Horatio’s Garden Sheffield will serve spinal patients from a considerable geographical area from the West Midlands to East Anglia, supporting over 360 inpatients per year, their families and friends, thousands of outpatients, as well as 250 NHS staff looking after them.
For more information about Horatio's Garden please visit the website.