Each year, about 4,400 people in the UK sustain life-altering spinal cord injuries, and typically spend five months in specialist rehabilitation, often isolated from their families. Horatio’s Garden, a charity committed to improving the lives of those affected by spinal injuries, recently completed its seventh garden project, situated at Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast.
The garden serves as a vital sanctuary for patients, offering them a serene space to reconnect with nature, aiding in their physical and mental recovery. Gleeds provided comprehensive project and cost management services, ensuring the successful delivery of this transformative project and overcoming a variety of challenges.
Horatio's Garden at Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, marks the seventh garden created by the charity. Situated in a previously unused area of the hospital, the garden was meticulously designed to support patients from across Northern Ireland with spinal injuries, as well as those in the Amputee Rehabilitation Unit. The project transformed the space into a therapeutic garden, where patients, staff and family members can find solace and rejuvenation.
Gleeds was engaged to provide project management services from the early design stages through to handover. The role involved coordinating with multiple stakeholders, managing the budget, overseeing construction and addressing unforeseen challenges. A hands-on approach ensured that the project was delivered to the highest standards, meeting the specific needs of the charity and the hospital. Gleeds also provided pro bono work for part of this project, as well as donating towards the cost of the opening event in June 2024.
Designed by the renowned Andy Sturgeon, a nine-time RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist, the 1800m² garden features a variety of structures, including a garden room, two garden pods, a glasshouse, and two garden sheds. The planting includes 17 trees, 149 hedges, 424 shrubs, 2,483 perennials and 13,174 bulbs. The garden also incorporates a dedicated boccia court, a first for Horatio's Gardens, enhancing its accessibility and functionality.