Amazon helps bring next phase of mental health recovery garden to life
Date added: 09 July 2026
Last updated: 09 July 2026
A team of 40 Amazon colleagues travelled to Maidstone this week to help deliver phase 2 of the Oakwood Nature Recovery Garden at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, creating an even better outdoor space to support patients’ recovery and wellbeing.
Working alongside trust staff, volunteer gardeners and charity partners, the team continued the transformation of the garden, which opened last year after a neglected area of land was turned into a vibrant therapeutic space. Today, the garden provides patients with a peaceful place to connect with nature, step away from the ward environment and support their mental wellbeing as part of their recovery.
Amazon donated more than £25,000 in labour, equipment and materials to support the project. Arriving with its own machinery, including a digger, the team created a new wildlife pond, planted more than £5,000 worth of plants, built a covered pergola, enhanced the landscaping, donated gardening tools and provided new rattan garden furniture, creating an even more welcoming environment for patients, visitors and staff.
Kirsty McInnes, Charity and Volunteers Lead for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Amazon for this amazing support. Their donation of time, skills, equipment and materials has made a huge difference to the garden. Projects like this simply would not be possible without the generosity of our corporate partners, volunteers and local community.
“The Oakwood Nature Recovery Garden is much more than a garden. It is a therapeutic space that complements the care our patients receive by giving them the opportunity to spend time outdoors, reconnect with nature and support their mental wellbeing. Every improvement made today will help more people benefit from the restorative effects of nature during their recovery journey.”
The latest improvements will help the garden continue to develop as a therapeutic environment, offering patients opportunities for mindfulness, gentle activity, social connection and quiet reflection in a safe, natural setting.
Lucy Dunn, Area Manager at Amazon, said: “We are delighted to support the next phase of the Oakwood Nature Recovery Garden. Giving back to the communities where we operate is an important part of who we are, and it has been fantastic to see our colleagues working together on a project that will make a lasting difference. We hope the garden continues to support patients, visitors and staff for many years to come.”
The Oakwood Nature Recovery Garden is a lasting example of what can be achieved when the NHS, charities, businesses and volunteers work together. By investing in therapeutic green spaces, partners like Amazon are helping more people experience the positive role nature can play in supporting mental health, wellbeing and recovery.
To find out more about volunteering with Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, visit: https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk/get-involved/volunteering/
