Patients recovering from life-changing spinal injuries have helped break ground on a new therapeutic garden in the North East designed to support rehabilitation, wellbeing and recovery for thousands of people.
The garden will be built at the Golden Jubilee Regional Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and has been described as a “transformative” space by those already in care.
One patient, Paul, said: "I’ve been here for about four or five weeks and during rehab it’s so important to have moments when you can get outside and feel free.
Patients recovering from spinal injuries help break ground on a new therapeutic garden at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough
(Image: Supplied)
"I know how much it means to enjoy the sunshine from my bed, meet other patients, see my family and have a chat when I’m not feeling well.
"When the garden is finished, it’s going to look amazing, inspire everyone through nature and be a wonderful place for patients, families and friends for years to come."
The garden is the ninth garden by Horatio’s Garden.
The North East garden has been designed by award-winning landscape designer Polly Wilkinson and Studio Pollyanna, in collaboration with EBBA Architects.
The design process included consultations with patients and NHS staff.
The garden will feature a large central courtyard, garden rooms, and an Alitex greenhouse for growing plants and vegetables.
A visual of the garden
(Image: Supplied)
It will serve patients from a wide region, stretching from the Scottish border down to Barrow in the west and Whitby in the east.
The project is entirely funded by public donations and charitable support.
Major backers include Gibson O'Neill and Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, the National Garden Scheme, The Julia Rausing Trust, the Our Hospitals Charity at The James Cook University Hospital, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and the Bernard Sunley Foundation.
The garden is being built by Walter Thompson and is anticipated to open in spring 2027.
Stacey Hunter, CEO for University Hospitals Tees, said: "Horatio’s Garden will transform the lives of patients, families and staff at The James Cook University Hospital.
"I’ve seen how vital these gardens are to people’s rehabilitation at other spinal centres in the UK and I know that this new garden will have a profoundly positive impact on everyone’s health and wellbeing right here in the heart of Middlesbrough."
Glynis Peat, Clinical Director of Spinal Cord Injuries and Neurorehabilitation at The James Cook University Hospital, said: "We have waited so long for our very own Horatio’s Garden and I am beyond excited to witness the first ‘spade in the ground’.
"Sustaining a spinal cord injury is life-changing and patients spend months in hospital undergoing a long and difficult rehabilitation process, both physically and psychologically.
"Being able to incorporate somewhere natural, private and restorative during their difficult journey will be transformative."
She said: "The design looks amazing and the way Polly, EBBA and their teams listened to our patients and took everything they shared on board is remarkable.
"We are so grateful to the amazing team at Horatio’s Garden and all the sponsors that have made today possible."
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Katie Tait, CEO of Horatio’s Garden, said: "We are beyond excited to have started our ninth Horatio’s Garden here.
"It’s going to be an extraordinary garden and we know from all our impact work how profoundly it will improve the lives of people with spinal injuries and their families and friends.
"Being here today with a digger, it’s hard to imagine that in a year’s time it will be jam packed with flowers and trees, and patients will be sitting in the garden room with family and friends immersed in nature."