RSPCA’s wildlife garden wins medal at Chelsea
The garden includes a range of wildlife-friendly features.
The RSPCA’s first ever garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been awarded a prestigious silver-gilt medal by the judging panel. The garden showcases how animals, in particular wildlife, enrich our lives, and it aims to inspire the public to do small things in their own gardens and communities to reverse wildlife decline.
Approximately 40 per cent of incidents reported to the RSPCA concern wildlife, and in 2022 they took more than 100,000 calls about wild animals in need.
The garden was designed by Martyn Wilson, who took inspiration from a visit to an RSPCA specialist wildlife centre, where many of the animals rescued by the charity are rehabilitated before being returned to the wild.
Mr Wilson said: “When planning the garden, I saw first hand on a visit to the RSPCA West Hatch wildlife centre the incredible rehabilitation work the charity’s team carries out, from injured seals to poorly hedgehogs, and everything in between.
"But the RSPCA can't help all wild animals themselves. And that's why I was so proud to create a sanctuary garden which is full of ideas people can easily recreate at home, whatever space they have.”
The garden includes a range of wildlife-friendly features such as bird nesting boxes, wall-mounted bee hotels, hedgehog houses, and a host of plants for pollinators.
After the show, the garden will be moved to an RSPCA wildlife rehabilitation and education centre in Cheshire.
RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: "We are all absolutely delighted and so proud that our garden has been given such a prestigious honour by RHS judges.
"Martyn created a stunning, stylish sanctuary that perfectly showcased so many amazing ideas of how we can help wildlife in our own gardens and green spaces. From a wildlife observation hide, to nesting boxes, wildlife friendly plants, and dead hedges hiding cosy hedgehog boxes, it is a true haven for wild animals and I cannot wait to see it at its new home at our fabulous Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre.
"From litter picks, to building a bird box or planting wildflowers, there's so many things we can all do to help - and that's the message we've been so proud to share with everyone at Chelsea. We can achieve so much together for animal welfare.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
