The RSPCA Garden

Here's where you can find out all about our wildlife garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, which marks the start of our 200th anniversary celebrations in 2024. Created by award-winning designer Martyn Wilson and funded by Project Giving Back, it's a stylish, modern interpretation of a wildlife sanctuary. As well as looking beautiful, it's full of ideas you can easily recreate at home, whatever space you have.

See the plant list

A 3D tour around The RSPCA Garden

For the first time ever, you can be a virtual visitor to RHS Chelsea Flower Show and take a 3D immersive tour around our garden. Stroll through at your leisure and stop to read more about its features, or learn more about our work for animals. With thanks to videographers Immersive 3D for creating this exclusive film – a first for any RHS garden.

Explore the garden

A 3D tour around The RSPCA Garden

Garden features to look out for

Wildlife observation hide

A building at the rear of the garden, made from UK-grown Douglas fir and larch, from which to watch wildlife. Its green roof and wall-mounted bee hotels provide extra habitats.

A nesting box feature wall

This wall, built from natural stone, is hung with contemporary nesting boxes. Wrapped in Corten steel, they'll attract endangered tree sparrows who nest in groups.

The bronze otters

Well-known wildlife artist Simon Gudgeon has kindly loaned us a bespoke bronze sculpture of otters. His stunning creation was inspired by otters in our care.

Dead hedges

Framed by rust-effect Corten steel, 'dead hedges' are actually full of life! With hidden hedgehog boxes, they house garden prunings and create habitats for birds, insects and more.

Wildlife friendly planting

A canopy of native trees and shrubs provide shade and shelter for birds, insects and mammals. Among the layers of plants and flowers are plenty to attract pollinating insects.

The stream and pool

A flowing 'rill', formed from recycled plastic, provides movement, sound, and a drink for wildlife. It symbolises the rescue-rehabilitate-release cycle of care we give to wild animals.

Our expert gardener

Martyn Wilson

Martyn is an award-winning garden designer and RSPCA supporter, and we're honoured he is working on this garden for us. He has a wealth of experience designing and creating show gardens on behalf of charities.

Based in Cheltenham, Martyn works across the Cotswolds, the Vale of Evesham and Worcestershire. He studied professional garden design at the Cotswold Gardening School. His background is in town planning with a specialist interest in sustainability.

His portfolio includes residential gardens, public and commercial spaces, and award-winning show gardens – including Gold Medals at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, RHS Malvern Spring Festival and BBC Gardeners' World Live.

Gardens for good

Project giving back

Our garden is one of 15 Gardens For Good Causes, made possible thanks to Project Giving Back who have funded all the design, planting and build costs. It will be created by award-winning designer and RSPCA supporter Martyn Wilson, and built by Landscape Associates.

To see a full list of the partners Martyn's worked with on this project view our Supporters and Suppliers web page.

Project Giving Back

Our garden is one of 15 Gardens For Good Causes, made possible thanks to Project Giving Back, which has generously funded all the design, planting and build costs. We're grateful for this unique opportunity to raise awareness and support for the RSPCA at the world’s most famous horticultural event.

Protecting wildlife from harm

Martyn has created our design to show that a wildlife garden needn’t be scruffy. It can look modern and stylish while providing sanctuary to a wide range of species (people included!). He was inspired by walks through native woodlands with his dog, as well as a visit to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre, where he saw some of our vital welfare work first hand.

The design uses only natural, sustainable or recycled materials. It shows how we can have a positive impact on biodiversity. Living as part of the natural environment. We want everyone who visits Chelsea, watches on TV, or hears about our garden, to be inspired to do their own ‘gardening with purpose’.

A lasting legacy

After Chelsea, The RSPCA Garden will be relocated to our Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and education hub in Cheshire. It will live on as a sanctuary for wildlife, staff, volunteers and visitors. There, it will help us provide animal welfare education to communities who have fewer opportunities to connect with the natural environment.

Quiz

How friendly is your garden?

Take our quiz to find out how friendly your green space is for local wildlife. Then, take a pledge to welcome more wildlife into your garden, no matter what size.

Take the quiz

Wild at heart

After years of planning, months of preparation and weeks of planting, The RSPCA Garden is in full bloom! Take a look at some of its beautiful details and clever wildlife ideas, all dreamed up by the talented Martyn Wilson.

Make a butterfly feeder

Low effort

As well as planting pollinator friendly flowers, you can attract butterflies with a feeder that provides sugar and water.

Make an eco bird feeder

Low effort

From hanging feeders to bird tables, nuts and seeds to DIY treats, there are low-cost ways to keep garden birds fed year round.

Create a dead hedge

Medium effort

Hardwood prunings can be cleverly arranged as a garden feature, providing structure, wind protection and habitats.

Our special guests

We were delighted to see many of our Vice Presidents, Ambassadors and High profile supporters enjoying the The RSPCA Garden. Have a look through our gallery to see some of the VIP attendees who came to support the RSPCA.