Thumbprints cast at Oswestry’s Horatio’s Garden Midlands to form artwork at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Patients, families, friends and NHS staff at the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) based at Gobowen, have come together in Horatio’s Garden Midlands to cast their thumbprint for an artwork to be displayed in the charity’s show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May.

Part of a nationwide project, the thumbprints in Horatio’s Garden Midlands are being collected by local ceramicist Vicky Ware. They will join a thousand others to form the final artwork appearing in a garden room within Horatio’s Garden Chelsea, designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg from Harris Bugg Studio in collaboration with architects Mcmullan Studio on the prestigious Main Avenue of the world leading flower show.

Imprints were cast by patients, NHS staff, volunteers and the charity’s staff alike, including Horatio’s Garden beneficiaries Vicky, Diane and Kathryn. They follow the casting of the first thumbprint in Horatio’s Garden London & South East earlier this year by the charity’s patron, HRH Princess Eugenie of York. Actor George Robinson, star of Sex Education, also cast his thumbprint during a visit to The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre in Sheffield, where he was announced as the charity’s new Appeal Ambassador for Horatio’s Garden Sheffield & East, the charity’s eighth project.

All the thumbprints will now be fired and glazed, so that they are ready to feature alongside those collected across the UK from the broad community of Horatio’s Garden, including patients, staff and volunteers within its gardens in spinal injury centres, as well as those involved in bringing the show garden to life.

Vicky, a beneficiary of Horatio’s Garden Midlands said: “I’m casting my thumbprint because this garden has really helped with my recovery, so it’s nice to think of the patients that future Horatio’s Gardens will help.”

Kathryn, a fellow beneficiary of Horatio’s Garden Midlands said: “I want to contribute towards the amazing work that the garden and charity does, which is why I’m casting my thumbprint for Horatio’s Garden Chelsea.”

Diane, also beneficiary of Horatio’s Garden Midlands added: “It feels nice to be a part of Horatio’s Garden Chelsea by casting my thumbprint.”

Dr Olivia Chapple, Founder and Chair of Trustees of Horatio’s Garden said: “This is a wonderful initiative by designers Harris Bugg Studio in collaboration with architect Andrew Mcmullan that will tell the powerful story of the many hands involved in caring for beneficiaries of Horatio’s Garden.”

Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, designers of Horatio’s Garden at Chelsea Flower Show, said: “We have been so fortunate in the last year to meet with many people supported by the Horatio’s Garden charity – we have listened to their stories and come to understand the vital role the charity plays within their lives. In approaching the design for the garden we were determined to visually represent the collective power of the whole Horatio’s Garden family – the many inspiring individuals that make up this transformative community of hope and support. And since this garden will be permanently located in Sheffield, the home of highly skilled metalworking, the idea of a personal way of hallmarking this space resonated yet further.”

Horatio’s Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023 will be a place of sanctuary and hope, reflecting the special qualities of the charity’s gardens that nurture the wellbeing of people after spinal injury. Designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg of Harris Bugg Studio, it will be an immersive, restorative haven – the antithesis of a busy, clinical hospital environment – that puts the requirements of people with mobility needs at its heart. The garden is generously funded by Project Giving Back.

Horatio’s Garden Midlands first opened in September 2019. Designed by acclaimed journalist and six-time RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winner Bunny Guinness, the garden forms part of the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI) at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH).

Pictured: L-R: Charity beneficiaries Vicky, Diane and Kathryn casting their thumbprints for Horatio’s Garden Chelsea in the garden room of Horatio’s Garden Midlands at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry © Horatio’s Garden.