The Kent Community Oasis Garden

Kent Community Oasis Garden

A multi-use space for students, staff and the local community, run in partnership with East Kent Mind

Welcome to the Kent Community Oasis Garden

We are the Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG), a collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food.

To find out how you can get involved, follow one of the links below for more information or email us at kentcog@kent.ac.uk

Videos

Welcome to KentCOG

Learn about what we do at the Kent Community Oasis Garden and how you can find out more.

How to find us

Follow along with our useful video that will show you how to walk from the Sports Centre to the Kent Community Garden located in Parkwood.

Meet KentCOG's Student Ambassadors

KentCOG Student Ambassadors for 2024-25 are George(left), Elinor(middle) and Lily (right).  

They are all second year students at Kent who  found the garden in their first year and really embedded themselves in the garden community, making it their space to be in as often as possible and to share. We know that they will be passionate about using their roles as ambassadors to make sure every single volunteer also feels safe, seen and welcome in the garden so everyone can feel the benefits they have experienced from being part of KentCOG. 
Come along and meet them and enjoy the space.


Houseplant Hospital - Rescue and Rehoming

Sustainable Houseplant growing on Campus

Sharing your space with houseplants can really help improve your wellbeing. But what can you do when they get sick? At KentCOG we have the answer with our monthly houseplant hospital sessions. We can offer advice, propagation, pots, compost and aim to support whatever your needs are, to encourage sustainable houseplant growing and sharing on campus.

If you're leaving campus we can also babysit them until your return or rehome them to a student who can offer them a new space to live in. 

Monthly Drop in Sessions 

First Wednesday of the month 12 noon - 1pm


People using tools to garden

KentCOG Tool Library

Supporting you to grow in a space near you. 

To support students growing in their own green spaces, we have established a Tool Library at KentCOG.

UoK Students can borrow garden tools and equipment to help establish and maintain growing activities, whether that's seeding herbs for your windowsill kitchen garden or planting vegetables and wildflowers in a patch of green, the Tool Library can help. 

Tools can be collected on a Wednesday morning from KentCOG and returned a week later. Click on the button for more information.

So have a go and grow in your green space and visit the garden to collect what you need.

KentCOG Activities

All events take place at the garden unless otherwise stated. You can find directions to the garden using the location button in the top banner of the page. If you are new to KentCOG please visit our volunteering page to find out how you can get involved in the general gardening sessions. 

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    Gardening Session

    Every Wednesday

    Drop in gardening session.

    If you are new to KentCOG please follow the link above  to find out how to access our sessions.

    10am - 2pm

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    Gardening Session

    Every Friday

    Drop in gardening session.

    If you are new to KentCOG please follow the link above to find out how to access our sessions.

    10am - 2pm

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    Monthly Seed Sow and Grow

    Wednesday 5th February

    Come down to KentCOG and help get the garden growing by joining our February seed sow activity. Plant this months seeds in seed trays and compost to grow in the polytunnels on site.

    No experience necessary.

    11- 11.45am  

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    Plant Hospital

    Wednesday 5th February

    Bring along your sick or neglected houseplants and we will try to resuscitate them and provide you with any resources you might need. Occurs first Wednesday of each month.

    Drop in between 12noon - 1pm

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    Gear up to Grow - Climate Action

    Wednesday 12th February

    Spend some time in nature and boost your winter wellbeing learning how you can take action for the climate growing and eating seasonal veg and make a seasonal soup to share. Open to students only.

    11am - 12noon

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    Chilli Seed 'Dating' Social

    Thursday 13th February

    A fun way to meet people & add some spice to your student life. Join us for a Chilli & Chill social to plant chilli seeds to grow at home.  

    12-1.30pm

    Booking: kent.ac.uk/whats-on/event/72675/hot-chilli-seed-social-event

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    Resilient in Nature Climate Café

    Wednesday 19th February

    Concerned about Climate and Nature? Drop in to Climate Café, to talk and share in a safe space while taking part in an activity for change too. 

     Led by Students, for Students. 

    2.30pm - 3.30pm

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    Gear up to Grow - Climate Action

    Wednesday 26th February

    Spend some time in nature and boost your winter wellbeing learning how you can take action for the climate by reducing food waste with composting. Open to students only.

     1pm until 2pm

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    Monthly Seed Sow and Grow

    Wednesday 5th March

    Come down to KentCOG and help get the garden growing by joining our March seed sow activity. Plant this months seeds in seed trays and compost to grow in the polytunnels on site.

    No experience necessary.

    11- 11.45am  

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    Plant Hospital

    Wednesday 5th March

    Bring along your sick or neglected houseplants and we will try to resuscitate them and provide you with any resources you might need. Normally on the first Wednesday of each month.

    Drop in between 12 noon - 1pm

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    Gear up to Grow - Eat Spring

    Wednesday 12th March 

    Gear up to Grow vegetables as part of a sustainable food system. We will be sowing vegetable seeds together and getting the Edible Garden ready for growing using no dig regenerative techniques. Students only.

    1pm - 2pm

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    UMHD - Plant Hospital Pop-up

    Thursday 13th March

    Give your indoor wellbeing a boost this UMHD & 'wild your windowsill'. Rehome a houseplant, improve your houseplants health or grow some seeds. Find us at the Houseplant Hospital Pop-up on the Plaza. Free event for Students.

    12-2pm

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    Gear up to Grow- Eat Spring

    Wednesday 26th March

    Gear up to Grow in the Edible Garden. Find out what to pick and eat. Take part in some activities to care for the growing veg plants & make a bed ready for planting in the no dig regenerative food system. Students only.

    1pm - 2pm


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    Resilient in Nature Climate Café

    Wednesday 26th March

    Concerned about Climate and Nature? Drop in to Climate Café, to talk and share in a safe space while taking part in an activity for change too. 

     Led by Students, for Students. 

    2.30pm - 3.30pm

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    Bumblebee Walk

    Friday 28th March

    Spend an hour up close to nature by taking part in the monthly Bumblebee Walk.  We will be identifying and recording bumblebees we see and reporting our results to Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Learn as we go. 

    2pm - 2.45pm

Image gallery

Upcoming sessions, workshops and events

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