Horatio’s Belfast Official Opening

Andy Sturgeon was in Belfast last Saturday for the official opening of Horatio’s Belfast at the Spinal Cord Injuries Unit (SCIU) in Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast.  On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Belfast, Andy joined patients, families and members of the hospital and Horatio’s team for the celebrations.

The garden was designed in close collaboration with the patients, their families and staff at the hospital to provide the maximum benefits of having a garden and bringing people closer to nature. We’re particularly proud that this garden is the first to contain a Boccia court – an inclusive and adaptable paralympic sport. To provide the opportunity for some gardening, there’s a fully accessible greenhouse and raised beds. While, for shelter, there is a cedar clad garden room and garden pods all allowing spaces for social gathering or smaller more intimate spaces. Features such as the dry stone walls and ceramic water feature give the opportunity for all visitors to enjoy not only the sights and scents of nature in the garden but also a wealth of textures and sounds. And for those who can’t get outside, there are views framed by the windows.    This is a garden that offers interest all year round and where we hope there is something to appreciate 365 days of the year – something that is particularly important for long term patients and their families.

 

Andy says:

“It was an enormous privilege to be asked to design Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland. As a garden designer, it’s very unusual to get an opportunity to have such a positive and fundamental impact on people’s lives. It’s fantastic to have created this place that will foster wellbeing during long periods of rehabilitation and have a transformative effect on thousands of patients and their loved ones. This garden, I feel, is making a real difference.”

 

 

 

 

All photos credit: Carrie Davenport