Felsted OF Magazine 2019-2020 (2).qxp_Layout 1 07/12/2020 15:33 Page 12
OF FEATURE
Horatio’s Garden is tale of triumph over adversity An unspeakable tragedy tore the heart out of Olivia Chapple and her family nearly a decade ago, but in that time the family has channelled their grief and heartache into the launch and development of an amazing charity. Imogen Gander finds out more
“It was Horatio’s observation, while volunteering with spinal injury patients near their home in Salisbury, that patients with spinal injuries often couldn’t go outside.…” Horatio Chapple
Horatio Chapple was dragged from his tent and killed by a polar bear while on an expedition in 2011. Horatio, aged just 17, was the eldest son of OF Dr Olivia Chapple (m81-83) and was on a science expedition in Svalbard, Norway with the British Schools Exploring Society. Acting true to his character and with unfaltering courage he lost his life while biding time for his friends to escape. So much potential was lost in that moment and the family was dealt a vicious blow that many families wouldn’t recover from. Yet the Chapple family has turned the unspeakable in to good, starting a charity in the name of Horatio that continues to flourish. Horatio’s Garden creates specially designed gardens in spinal trauma rehabilitation centres across the country, and since her son’s death, Olivia Chapple has worked as a full-time volunteer, leading the charity in just eight years from its local roots into a full blown UK wide organisation. She said the charity is making a real difference to the the lives of young people facing life changing injuries and long stays in hospital. “Spinal cord injury is devastating, not only for the patient but their family – hopes and dreams are shattered and everyone has to come to terms with a new future. Its hard to do this in a busy hospital ward – the gardens bring a sanctuary for reflection, contemplation, laughter and tears. They are vital to rehabilitation.” It was Horatio’s observation, while volunteering with spinal injury patients near
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© OLIVIA CHAPPLE
their home in Salisbury, that patients with spinal injuries often couldn’t go outside. Horatio initially conducted surveys with patients and their carers, which led to the ideas that developed into Horatio’s Garden. Describing Horatio’s passion for helping others, Chapple remarks that he showed just how much of an impact volunteering as a young person can have.
“Each garden takes about three years to build and we make sure to plan them thoroughly with excellent designers.” The gardens are perfect for spinal patients and can be accessed by wheelchair or hospital bed, with space for family members or carers to participate in events and activities with patients. Chapple describes the summer internship programme that the charity runs each year with Oxford University interns who interview patients, staff and visitors. The ensuing report demonstrates not only the staggering impact of the gardens – between 90% and 100% of respondents report improved mental health and engagement with physical rehabilitation. It also suggests possible modifications that can be incorporated into the next gardens. “We learnt that tea and cake are always needed, so we added an accessible kitchen area to each garden,” laughs Chapple. She adds that there are many more garden rooms and pods to allow the spaces to be usable all year round. Not only do Horatio’s Gardens allow for socialising with family and friends, but sessions such as garden therapy and wheelchair skills are used to help patients recover, whilst music and craft sessions help social cohesion, something that is so important for patients with long-term injuries. Chapple stresses how important all of these aspects of the gardens are, reminding us that recent lockdowns in the UK have shown just how important access to the outside is for mental wellbeing, not only for patients but hospital staff as well.
After creating its first garden in Salisbury, the charity has now been able to bring Horatio’s Gardens to five out of the 11 spinal injury centres in the UK, with plans to expand even further.
The charity commits to maintaining each garden once it is open and employs professional staff in each project who work in collaboration with the hospital staff and lead a committed team of volunteers. Fundraising is vital to cover the running costs of each project and the charity is seeking people who may like to become Friends of their local garden.
The gardens themselves are large ongoing projects, requiring the cooperation of many organisations and individuals and are often designed by world-leading garden designers.
Chapple says: “Becoming a Friend of Horatio’s Garden and donating a small amount each month helps us make a huge difference to the lives of patients every day.”
“He demonstrated the value of a new perspective and constant questioning.”
