In the birdworld, New Guinea's bowerbird wins the medal for artful nest-making:
Here in the UK, the medal winners of the fashion world are giving nature's nestmakers a run for their money with one-off masterpieces to raise money giving nature a home in the UK.
To celebrate National nestbox week and London Fashion Week, the UK's top designers have created some amazing nestboxes reflecting their unique styles. All money raised from the auction will fund UK conservation so please do seize this opportunity to feather your nest with a designer labelled treasure. My bid's in and I'm crossing all I've got to secure my piece of design history.
Here's a snapshot of three of the gems up for auction:
King of glitz and glamour, Julien Macdonald OBE, has delivered a dazzle of pink and purple sequins in a show of joy and exuberance. He's always taken time to support good causes; a quick look at his collaborations page shows his genuine interest in helping our world be a better place. When we approached him to take part in this project, he said yes right away, and told us “Protecting the environment and the wildlife it provides a home for is something I feel passionately about.” For your chance to own Julien’s one-off, never to be repeated box of sparkly joy, get bidding on eBay here.
Fans of the Great British Sewing Bee (which returns Tuesday night, 8pm on BBC 2) will be excited to see this suave, sophisticated showpiece from judge Patrick Grant. Like his Savile Row tailoring, it is beautifully finished, with great attention to detail. Imagine owning one of Patrick's creations and showcasing it in your home. All of these nestboxes are works of art. Patrick has always had a real love for the countryside and wildlife. Last year he told the Telegraph “When I was growing up I wanted to be the next David Attenborough and I get so much joy from animals, particularly birds." If you covet this artwork, bid here.
Popular belief is that conservation is driven by bad news. We're always hearing about the loss of this species or that species, the erosion of land and the unforseen impact of doing something or not doing something. In truth, conservation is driven by people wanting to make change for the better and at the RSPB our actions are informed by fact, underscored by science. Positive change requires vision, knowledge, expertise, passion and support. Julien and Patrick have reflected the joy, imagination and sparkle. Our next mega-offerring supplies the slogans that build popular support.
First known for her impactful slogan T-shirts in the 1980’s, Katharine Hamnett CBE has been at the forefront of a more ethical approach to business and day to day living. With 60% of the UK's wildlife in decline, Katharine’s signed statement of a nestbox helps remind us that nature needs a home, and we can all do our bit to help. Bid here. She was instrumental in the successful campaign to ban pesticides which were killing pollinators such as bees. Interviewed for the The Ecologist she stated as boldly as one of her block-prints: "If we care about extinction of species, if we care about life on earth, if we care about survival of the human race, if we care about a habitable planet, we just have to adjust our lifestyle."
Adjusting your outdoor space to Give Nature a Home is as easy as putting up a nestbox. It’s National Nestbox Week, so its the perfect time. You can make your own, or you can buy one from our shop. It may not be as glamorous as the collectors items in our auction, but to the birds on your doorstep, it may mean survival.
Thanks to the support of The British Fashion Council, you can see our bespoke designer bird hotels in The Shop at Somerset House. They will be on display during London Fashion Week (14-18 February) and the Vodafone London Fashion Weekend (20-23 February). All funds raised support the RSPB's conservation work like restoring wild places, research into species decline and reconnecting people with nature.