OPERATIONS TEAM
Charlie Marno
National Operati
I served in the army for 22 years, from private soldier to Regimental Sergeant Major and subsequently was commissioned to the rank of captain as a late entry officer. The majority of my service had been operational in Northern Ireland except for a 12-month tour in Sierra Leone as a military advisor with IMATT in the 3 Bde area bordering Liberia. I retired in 2007 due to the diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis.
My transition on medical grounds was something that affected, and still does to a certain extent, my own mental health. As a result, I have been interested in our veteran’s mental health and general wellbeing and take a large role in welfare for the Royal British Legion and two other organisations., as well as connecting veterans to organisations that would help in relation to finances, housing and health.
Gardening has helped me get through some very dark days. The sense of relief and distance from the outside world seems to take away the madness when I extract into my Narnia with my vegetable patch, hens and ducks with only my dog to listen, poor dog!
My role within DGS is to help identify and set up new Spoke sites which will be linked to our Hub locations. We will marry up with community partners who can support community integration for our service leavers.
Rachel Willis
Regional Coordinator England and Wales
Rachel served in the Army for over 20yrs before being medically discharged with physical and mental health issues. Her last role was in in the Army Welfare Team so she has extensive experience of the wider welfare needs of transitioning and veteran personnel.
Rachel used horticulture as her main therapy while transitioning to civilian life and has personal experience of the benefits that it can bring. In addition to her regional coordination role within DGS, Rachel is a RHS qualified self-employed horticulturist, who also enjoys and participates in archeological projects, as well as, arts and crafts.
Rachel is delighted to be involved with DGS. The network has similar echoes of her own recovery journey, which is one she would like to share and develop.
Lucy Thorpe BSc Dip STH
Regional Co-ordinator for London
I have has been working in land based further education and therapeutic horticulture for 15 years following a career change from a Chartered Surveyor and brings extensive experience in developing therapeutic gardens and facilitating programmes within these having worked with a wide range of client groups.
Following completion of an RHS Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture and a Professional Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture I began work for Help for Heroes in their Wiltshire Recovery centre. Here I established a thriving fruit and vegetable garden around which I developed and ran a programme of nature-based activities. These were delivered for both educational and therapeutic benefits to military serving personnel, veterans and their families. During this time I also collaborated with Sparsholt College and veterans to create a Chelsea Flower Show garden winning a Gold medal and Best in Discovery Exhibits award.
More recently I have been working as a Head Gardener and Horticultural Therapist for Horatio’s Garden in Salisbury supporting patients and their families to access and benefit from nature whilst recovering from life changing spinal injuries.