About us
We are a small local mental health charity working with military veterans and ex-uniformed services personnel who are experiencing problems. Based on a dedicated site in Dudhope Park, we provide supervised and tailored therapies within a green space environment, with the aim of improving our veterans’ resilience and helping them to develop and maintain positive coping strategies.
Veterans will normally come to us for up to two days a week, and spend time working in the garden alongside other veterans, volunteers and staff. We have indoor and covered areas for bad weather days and are open throughout the year.
The garden grows plants, flowers, fruit and veg, and our veterans are involved in every aspect, from sowing seeds to harvesting the fruit and veg produce. We have lunch together and enjoy cooking and eating what we have grown.
Who we are
David Cameron
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David is a Registered Nurse (Mental Health) who qualified in 1995. He worked in the NHS for 5 years post registration before joining the Royal Air Force in January 2000 serving up until 2010. He held clinical posts in Norfolk UK as a Primary Mental Health Practitioner and then latterly with Abertay University Dundee as the Mental Health Advisor.
He joined the garden with many years experience as a Mental Health Nurse and as a veteran himself is looking forward to the next chapter of his career in the Therapy Garden.
Lisa Christmas
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Lisa is a qualified person-centred counsellor who studied at UHI Perth. She has previously volunteered with Cruse Bereavement (Scotland) and Harbour Counselling Service in Perth before going on to work as a school counsellor in the Perth and Kinross area for 2 years. Lisa started at Dundee Therapy Garden in January 2023.
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Fiona Hutcheon
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Fiona is a qualified pluralistic counsellor who trained at Abertay University. Fiona volunteered at Insight Dundee and continued to work there after qualifying. Fiona also started working at Dundee Therapy Garden in January 2023.
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They both bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to Dundee Therapy Garden.
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Gardener