Dundee's Covid Community Memorial

Aim

Support the creation of Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial, a colourful garden where people can go to reflect and remember loved ones.

Your contribution will help to create a free, permanent Covid Memorial Garden and greenspace for Dundee. This will be a place for people to go and reflect, connect with others and experience nature.

Remember your loved one by donating. 

By donating to this garden, you can commemorate a loved one or memorialise your experience of the Covid pandemic and that of the community’s.

In the garden’s central artwork is a sculptural display of birds in flight. Each of these birds represents a loss experienced during the Covid pandemic whilst symbolising hope for the future. 

• By selecting the top tier reward in this Crowdfunder and donating £100, you will be allocated a bird on the garden’s central artwork which can be named after your loved one, family or friends group or an organisation. You will also receive your own Corten steel bird ornament and a packet of wildflower seeds.
• By donating £50 you will receive a bird ornament which can be displayed in your own garden or home and a packet of wildflower seeds. 
• If you contribute £20, you will receive a packet of wildflower seeds for planting in your own garden or community.

Why is a Covid Memorial Garden being created?

This memorial garden and labyrinth is the outcome of Dundee’s participation in a national project called Remembering Together. This project has created space for communities across Scotland to come together to share and process what Covid has meant and continues to mean for people. 

A series of conversations and co-creation workshops were held across Dundee where local communities were invited to collectively reflect on their experiences of Covid. These workshops resulted in this Memorial Garden and Labyrinth design which will be situated next to Moncur Crescent Playpark, on Caird Avenue. 

“It is exciting to see our original ideas for Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial come to life. We designed the Memorial to include a labyrinth that people can walk through and take a moment to reflect.  

“We’re really pleased with the Memorial’s location at Moncur Crescent. It was important for our design to be located close to a playpark for children and young people, who were impacted by isolation during the Covid pandemic.”  

Lucy Binnie, CLD Youth Worker and project participant.  

Who designed Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial? 

The people who took part in Dundee’s co-creation workshops have had a variety of experiences of Covid including bereavement, isolation, significant life changes and a negative impact on mental health. Stories of positive experiences throughout the pandemic were also shared and celebrated.

Participants came from a variety of communities including older people, young mothers, veterans, school pupils, families, and people with long term health conditions. Together with designers Vinishree Verma of Around Zero and Dan Kingston of Old School Fabrications, these local people transformed their experiences of Covid into this Memorial Garden and Labyrinth design. 

“I lost my grandfather to Covid and never had the opportunity to say goodbye. The Memorial Garden will give me a place to sit and share my memories with others and allow our younger generation to have a fun place to find out how Covid affected our lives.”  

Estelle Coulthard, former Family Support Coordinator, Home-Start Dundee and project participant.

Garden and Labyrinth Design

The Garden and Labyrinth that local communities developed for Dundee’s Covid Memorial symbolises the emotional twists, turns and uncertain paths that were experienced throughout the pandemic. Labyrinths are known to reduce stress, aid mental health and community building. They encourage meditation, mindfulness and connection. The memorial acts as a reminder of how important nature and greenspace were during these times.  It is the community’s intention for the garden to encourage people to take time out of their day to get fresh air, connect with nature and with other people visiting the memorial. 

Dundee’s Covid Community Memorial will consist of accessible, level access paths which weave their way through areas of high-quality planting. The memorial’s planting will be perennial, low maintenance and climate resilient with a variety of heights. Sensory elements will also be included with planting considered for colour, texture, scent and symbolism. There will be information panels throughout the garden to tell this story.   

In the centre of the garden will be an artwork of waves, or fins. The central fins will be made from Corten steel and include seating. The fins will include a sculptural display of birds in flight mirroring the natural waves, curves and shapes in the planting. Birds often have connotations of the changing of seasons, freedom of movement and new beginnings, reminding us of our loved ones. 

The memorial’s materials of Corten steel and timber, as well as perennial planting have been considered with longevity, low maintenance and sustainability in mind. The design has been well considered in regard to maintenance and designed to ensure that the space is safe and inviting to visit.

You can find out more information about the project by visiting: https://cityofdesigndundee.com/projects/remembering-together-co-creating-covid-community-memorials/

This project successfully funded on 30th January 2026