Spending time in green spaces supports your mental health and wellbeing: a walk between lectures, a quiet place to sit or a gardening session can offer a welcome pause in a busy day.
Kent’s Canterbury campus is full of ways to get closer to nature and enjoy the stunning green spaces that have been awarded Green Flag status. We offer chances to get involved, from micro volunteering sessions to being involved more regularly. You can shape campus spaces, spot local wildlife or try your hand at growing food.
Shape the green spaces you use
Want a say in how central campus is cared for? The Kent Sustainability Forum brings students, staff, societies and operational teams together to develop sustainability projects across our campuses. All Kent students are welcome.
At the next meeting on 4 November, join the Landscape and Grounds team and a Sustainability Officer for a tour of central campus. Then share your ideas on how these spaces can support wildlife and wellbeing, look inviting and work well for the people who use them.
Interested? Join the Kent Sustainability Forum.
Spot wildlife around campus
Kent’s Canterbury campus is one of the UK’s most biodiverse, ranked 2nd on the Campus Biodiversity Network leaderboard. From Great Crested Newts to rabbits on the lawns, it is home to a remarkable variety of wildlife. Its mix of habitats supports birds, mammals, amphibians, invertebrates and plants, so there is always something new to notice.
Download iNaturalist and help build a picture of campus wildlife with a few taps on your phone. Photograph what you spot and add it to the campus record. Explore the project page to see what has already been recorded.
Visit Kent Community Oasis Garden (KCOG)
The Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG) is a welcoming campus hub where students, staff and local community members come together to grow food and connect with nature.
Drop in for gardening on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am–2pm. The team will show you around, help you get started and introduce you to other people taking part.
There is plenty to try. Weekly Biodiversity Booster sessions bring you closer to different species, while the small-group Food Grow Friday focuses on one crop: how it grows and what it takes to get it started.
For a relaxed visit, Wellbeing Café runs every Tuesday at the garden farmhouse. Drop in for games, nature-based crafts or a chance to hang out. Hot drinks and biscuits are free, and a colleague from Student Support and Wellbeing is there if you need support.
KentCOG is in Park Wood. Visit the website for directions, the activity timetable and volunteering information.