Garden therapy gets police grant

Insp Nick Fordom at Thanet Mind's Garden Gate project

A charity which uses horticultural therapy to help people recovering from mental health problems has received a grant from Kent Police's property fund.

Thanet branch of Mind, which runs allotments under its Garden Gate scheme, has received £250.

A total of £3,000 is being given to charities and community projects in east Kent this summer from the fund.

All unclaimed lost property is sold after a set period and the money raised is added to the fund.

"This welcome donation will go towards whatever the Garden Gate participants want, such as next year's crops," said Mary Chambers, manager of Thanet Mind.

"Horticultural therapy is proven to assist mental health recovery and we have had a number of people return to full-time employment."