Kent Community Oasis Garden

Kent Community Oasis Garden Programme

Lewis (right) and students volunteer at KentCOG

The Kent COG is a multi-use, accessible, safe space that provides opportunities for students, staff and the community to engage with sustainable food, biodiversity, gardening, community action and mental health and wellbeing activities, while making new friends, getting some time outdoors, building up skills, confidence and making new links.

The Kent Community Oasis Garden is delivered by East Kent Mind in collaboration with the University of Kent and is located at the edge of the Canterbury campus,

The COG offers two weekly sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays for participants to engage with general gardening activities. Individuals can just turn up and spend between one and 4 hours per session outdoors, working with a facilitator or other professional in a group setting, taking part in growing activities, sharing knowledge and learning new skills. In addition, they offer monthly Saturday sessions focused on developing and maintaining wellbeing for all, and seasonal Sunday sessions, promoting sustainability and exploring our connection with the natural environment.

We also run a Green Wellbeing – EKM Gardening Group on Thursdays at 1pm (please register below). These are weekly seasonal gardening activities within a small friendly group, specifically for those who want to improve their wellbeing by spending time in nature. No gardening knowledge required, just a willingness to have a go.

To register for any of the KentCOG sessions, please fill in our registration form on our Wellbeing Activities page: Wellbeing Activities

KentCOG is eager to liaise with individuals to make the programme appropriate for their needs. They are experienced in working with a variety of needs and the site is partially accessible for wheelchair users. The CoG is working towards creating a fully accessible site and any feedback is welcome. We are happy to show students and staff around the garden and discuss their particular needs or requirements, as well as offering additional sessions to try out activities and to discuss ideas.

The programme can be accessed by visiting the garden on a regular basis throughout the year, or by liaising with staff at the University or via Mind to agree a specific block of sessions for individuals or groups which can be delivered on site

For further information, contact: kentcog@kent.ac.uk