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6 ways to stop your cat hunting birds
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UK Charity SongBird Survival debut at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
January 7, 2025
UK songbird populations have dropped by 50% in just two generations, so the urgency to raise awareness and act has never been greater. SongBird Survival is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to halting and reversing the alarming population decline of songbirds and other small birds. It does this by supporting scientific research into the causes of decline and offers practical expert advice on how we can all help to protect and support birds and wildlife, including in our own gardens and green spaces.
The SongBird Survival Garden will focus on the three key elements of shelter, water and food, that are vital in supporting bird life. Nicola has cleverly designed this playful, immersive garden, from the perspective of a bird foraging for food and water, with two meandering paths mimicking a bird’s movement through the garden’s countryside-inspired planting scheme that offers food, nesting material and shelter.
The garden’s focal point is a distinctive human-sized Birdhouse Den created from reclaimed materials. The den is decorated with hand-crafted metalwork motifs which have been commissioned for the Garden by Cambridgeshire-based artist, Jeni Cairns. The intricate circular motifs are plasma-cut from repurposed oil drums. The designs depict six key songbirds – Greenfinches, Starlings, Yellowhammers, Skylarks, Willow tits and House martins, all of which are currently on the UK’s ‘red list’ following their population decline over recent years.
Multi-stemmed trees provide spring blossom to attract insects and berries in Autumn/Winter and the abundance of branches offer places for birds to perch, nest and shelter. The structural hedging creates ‘highways’ that birds can use to safely navigate through the garden. Trees and Shrubs used include Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’, Ribes nigrum ‘Ben Connan’ and Taxus baccata which have all been chosen for their fruits in the form of berries and hips.
Although this will be her first RHS Chelsea garden, Nicola (pictured) has plenty of design experience, having run her own successful design studio in Rutland for five years and in 2018 she was a finalist in the RHS Young Designer of the Year.
It has been a long-held dream to design a garden at RHS Chelsea. Partnering with a cause I feel so passionate about is really important to me and I’m delighted to be working with SongBird Survival to help raise awareness of the charity’s vital work and to share our love of songbirds. - Nicola Oakey
The decline in songbird numbers is devastating and we simply cannot allow gardens to fall silent. We know people want to do more to help in their own gardens to ensure songbirds have a future. Thanks to the sponsorship from Project Giving Back, we want our beautiful RHS Chelsea garden to inspire visitors, giving them advice about what to plant and grow for birds, while also motivating them to encourage the next generation of songbird champions in their children and grandchildren. We want people to know that everyone can make a difference to the survival rates of songbirds and that by taking positive action together we can ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the dawn chorus that we were privileged to grow up with. - Susan Morgan, CEO of SongBird Survival
Following RHS Chelsea, the SongBird Survival Garden will move to its permanent home with the Neighbourhood Network Charity, who manage a bustling community centre, based in Bransholme, Hull. This community centre will be a well-loved resource for all ages to learn about the natural world, gardening and enjoy the wellbeing benefits that come from spending time in nature, listening to birdsong.
There is something quite magical about thinking about a garden or green space from a bird's perspective so I'm really looking forward to seeing this garden come to life at RHS Chelsea in May. Encouraging and inspiring people to plant with birds in mind is a joyful concept for the show and the joy doesn't stop there - the garden will go on to relocate to an urban community in Hull, creating an oasis for birds in the city. - Hattie Ghaui, CEO of Project Giving Back
Find out more about the SongBird Survival Garden at RHS Chelsea 2025 here
For further media information about the SongBird Survival Garden please contact
Jane Southcott pr, e: jane@janesouthcottpr.co.uk m:07787 527430
Notes to Editors
About SongBird Survival
SongBird Survival is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to halting and reversing the alarming population decline of songbirds and other small birds. It does this by supporting research carried out by experts at top universities and conservation organisations in the UK into the cause of the decline, and the solutions. www.songbird-survival.org.uk
About Nicola Oakey
With a strong family history in horticulture, Nicola studied at The Pickard School of Garden Design. She joined Homebase’s Garden Academy scheme in 2014 and as part of the scheme then was one of the team who helped designer Adam Frost create his gold medal-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden, ‘Urban Retreat’.
Nicola then created a gold medal-winning border at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and took part in the RHS Young Designer of the Year competition at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show 2018. She was the only female finalist and achieved a silver-gilt medal for her highly praised design. In 2019 Nicola was awarded Pro Landscaper’s prestigious ’30 Under 30′ award in 2019, recognising her as one of the UK’s up-and-coming designers.
In the same year, Nicola launched her garden design studio in Rutland creating nature inspired gardens and landscapes for her clients. She regularly write for horticultural magazines including The Garden and The English Garden and volunteers for Rutland National Garden Scheme. www.nicolaoakey.com
About The Neighbourhood Network, Hull
The Neighbourhood Network is a Hull-based charity dedicated to enhancing community safety, well-being, and resilience. With a multifaceted approach, the charity addresses a wide range of community needs, empowering individuals and groups to actively contribute to building safer, healthier, and more connected neighbourhoods. To find out more visit www.nnetwork.org.uk
About Project Giving Back
About Project Giving Back Project Giving Back (PGB) is a unique grant-making charity that provides funding for gardens for good causes at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. PGB was launched in May 2021 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its devastating effects on UK charitable fundraising - effects that have since been exacerbated by the cost of living crisis. It will fund gardens inspired by a range of good causes at RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 2022 - 2026.
PGB will fund a total of 10 gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2025 and intends to fund up to 60 gardens at the show from 2022 - 2026.
Project Giving Back was established with funding from two private philanthropists who are RHS Life Members and keen gardeners. They wish to remain anonymous. PGB will help UK based good causes recover from the unprecedented effects of the global pandemic by giving them an opportunity to raise awareness of their work for people, plants and the planet at the high-profile RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Find out more at www.givingback.org.uk
About RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place in the Royal Hospital Grounds, Chelsea, London SW3 4SR from Tuesday 20th May to Saturday 24th May 2025. For more information about the show, please contact the RHS Press Office at showspr@rhs.org.uk
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