11-17 May is Mental Health Awareness Week and with this year’s theme encouraging action to support good mental health, there’s a space at Kent Community Oasis Garden for everyone.
‘Being in nature is known to relieve physical stress, enhance mood, and improve cognitive ability and social cohesion, amongst an array of other benefits,’ says Professor Zoe Davies from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology. ‘However, the role of biodiversity plays in this has been generally overlooked. My research suggests that people want to interact with biodiversity, but that they are not particularly good at recognising how biodiverse their immediate surroundings are.’
Nestled at the western end of the University of Kent campus, Kent COG lives up to its name. Sessions here, run in partnership with East Kent Mind, provide both physical and emotional relief from the trials of everyday life. Students, staff and members of the community are regularly engaged in wildlife surveys, growing vegetables and the development of areas such as the Sensory Garden, which is designed to spark all five senses.
‘One of the best parts about COG is the ways we build a community and include people as best as we can,’ says COG student ambassador, George, ‘You get to meet such a lovely range of people here and everyone’s talents are welcome.’
Professor Davies’ research could explain why volunteers benefit so much from these activities: ‘We’ve found that sensory attributes (e.g. colour, textures, smell) are key for how people relate to biodiversity and the wellbeing they gain from being in green space.’
For COG ambassador, Lily, the social element is as much a draw as connecting with nature. ‘I enjoy being outside with all the volunteers and just making sure everyone feels like they have got something out of the time they spend here. I think it’s so important that people have access to a community space, and I really enjoy being a part of that, and seeing what it means to other people who volunteer at the garden.’
In 2025, KentCOG expanded into the neighbouring Hothe Court farmhouse, providing a sheltered space for wellbeing activities, including the weekly Wellbeing Café on Tuesday afternoons.
Ambassador Selby says: ‘The biggest achievement while I’ve been an ambassador has been acquiring Hothe Court Farmhouse and being able to gradually make it our own. It’s an amazing space, especially in winter. In the run-up to Christmas 2025, we had a performance by Folkshop there which was brilliant; loads of students, staff and community members came to watch and celebrate the end of term with us.’
Folkshop is returning to KentCOG on Wednesday 14 May as part of a programme of events organised by student-led Kent Music Society for Mental Health Awareness Week. The 10-piece band will be playing alongside the resident folk singing group between 12:30pm-2pm, before performing later the same week at a campus Ceilidh organised in aid of Music4Wellbeing.