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.
Here's where you’ll find everything you need to know about our sanctuary garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023. View the plant list, take an exclusive 3D immersive tour, and be inspired to create your own wildlife haven at home. This garden was created by award-winning designer Martyn Wilson and funded by Project Giving Back.

Explore the garden

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

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.

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. 

What inspired The RSPCA Garden?

Martyn wants to show that a wildlife garden can still look modern and stylish while providing sanctuary to a wide range of species (people included!). He took inspiration from his walks through native woodlands with his dog Poppy, as well as a visit to our West Hatch Wildlife Centre, where he saw our vital rescue and rehabilitation work first hand. Martyn imagined an RSPCA volunteer and wildlife enthusiast taking a relaxing break in the garden, perhaps using the hide to observe some of the animals who've made it their home.

His design uses only natural, sustainable or recycled materials, and shows how easy it is to have a positive impact on biodiversity. From bird boxes to hedgehog houses; bee hotels to a living roof, it will attract a wide range of species and help them to thrive. And it's filled with ideas to help you rewild your own outdoor space – be that a garden, balcony, allotment or a local community area.

With a bespoke bronze statue of otters, a stylish water feature, attractive Corten steel structures, and neat-but-natural planting, Martyn challenges the idea that wildlife gardens are untidy or unfashionable. Whatever your budget, we hope it inspires you to create your own 'garden with purpose'.

Life after Chelsea

Once RHS Chelsea Flower Show closes its gates for 2023, The RSPCA Garden will be 'rehomed' by our Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and education hub in Cheshire. There it will live on as a sanctuary for wildlife, staff, volunteers and visitors. It will help us provide animal welfare education to communities who have fewer opportunities to connect with the natural environment.

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.

Become a wildlife friend

Pick a pledge that will help you welcome more wildlife into your garden. You can make a difference, no matter how little space you have.
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.  

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.

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.

RHS branded gifts

To celebrate the RSPCA at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, we have a selection of RHS branded gifts available at our online shop.

Join RSPCA #WildlifeFriend

There are loads of easy ways to get involved and help wildlife. Sign up as a volunteer and start making a difference today.

Join RSPCA #WildlifeFriend

There are loads of easy ways to get involved and help wildlife. Sign up as a volunteer and start making a difference today.