Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a United Kingdom botanical garden, scientific institution, conservation organisation and public education charity based in southwest London. Its principal site, Kew Gardens, traces its origins to 1759, when Princess Augusta established a botanical garden at Kew. The site expanded during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and became a major centre for horticulture, plant introduction, botanical classification and economic botany. Today, the organisation also manages Wakehurst in Sussex, a National Trust property operated in partnership with Kew and home to the Millennium Seed Bank. Kew combines public gardens with a substantial scientific infrastructure. Its collections include tens of thousands of living plant taxa, one of the world’s largest documented herbaria, extensive fungal material and the Millennium Seed Bank’s globally significant collection of wild plant seeds. Scientists and conservation specialists work on plant and fungal diversity, taxonomy, genomics, habitat restoration, sustainable agriculture, forestry, plant disease, climate resilience and the conservation of threatened species. Kew’s research is intended not only to document biodiversity but also to support practical responses to food insecurity, ecosystem degradation, climate change and the loss of wild species. The organisation’s public-facing role is expressed through landscaped gardens, glasshouses, arboreta, galleries, museums, exhibitions, schools programmes, courses, events and digital educational resources. Notable features include the Palm House, the Temperate House, the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the Waterlily House, the Hive installation and the Children’s Garden. Kew Gardens was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 because of its historic landscape, buildings and importance in the development of botanical science and horticulture. Kew is not a conventional commercial brand or listed company. It operates as an Executive non-departmental public body under the National Heritage Act 1983, is sponsored by Defra and also has charitable and commercial subsidiaries supporting its mission. Visitor admission, memberships, retail, hospitality, education, grants, donations, research partnerships and fundraising all contribute to its operating model. Its international reach comes through scientific collaborations, seed conservation partnerships, capacity building and field projects in many countries. The institution’s historical role is complex. Kew helped facilitate the movement and cultivation of plants across the British Empire, contributing to new agricultural economies while participating in systems shaped by imperial power and extraction. In the present day, its stated emphasis is conservation, scientific openness, sustainable development and global partnerships. Kew’s public identity therefore rests on the combination of a historic garden, a trusted scientific authority, a conservation network and a major cultural visitor destination.

The history of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew begins in 1759, when Princess Augusta created a nine-acre botanical garden at Kew. The neighbouring royal estates were progressively developed, and under the direction of figures including William Chambers and Joseph Banks the gardens became associated with botanical exploration, horticultural experimentation and the classification of plants. Kew’s growth reflected the expanding scientific networks of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the movement of plants, specimens and knowledge around the world. During the nineteenth century Kew developed from a royal pleasure ground into a national botanical institution. The Royal Botanic Gardens Act 1840 established the gardens as a public institution, after which their collections, herbarium, library, laboratories and educational functions expanded. Kew became influential in training gardeners, documenting plant diversity and studying economically important crops. Its scientists and networks contributed to the transfer and cultivation of plants throughout the British Empire. That legacy helped shape global agriculture and horticulture but also needs to be understood in the context of imperial administration, commercial extraction and unequal control over biological resources. The gardens’ built environment is an important part of its identity. Historic structures and landscapes include the Palm House, Temperate House, Waterlily House, the Pagoda and later glasshouses and exhibition spaces. Kew’s living collections and preserved specimens grew through collecting expeditions, exchanges with other institutions and the work of successive horticultural and scientific teams. The organisation also developed a role in plant health, conservation and international botanical capacity building. In the twentieth century Kew’s scientific work broadened from classical taxonomy and horticulture into ecology, conservation biology, plant physiology, molecular research and data-based approaches to biodiversity. Wakehurst in Sussex became an important partner site and now hosts the Millennium Seed Bank, established as a major programme for conserving wild plant seeds outside their natural habitats. The seed bank works with organisations in many countries to collect, conserve and use seed material in support of restoration and conservation. The National Heritage Act 1983 provided the statutory basis for the modern organisation. RBG Kew operates at arm’s length from government as an Executive non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, while its charitable structure and commercial activities help fund public, scientific and conservation work. Kew experienced financial pressure in the 2010s and undertook organisational restructuring before securing a revised government funding settlement in 2016. Under Richard Deverell, appointed director in 2012, the organisation placed greater emphasis on connecting its scientific expertise with public understanding of contemporary environmental challenges. Kew Gardens became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The designation recognises the site’s historic landscape, architecture and contribution to the development of botanical gardens and plant science. Public engagement has continued to develop through restored glasshouses, new family facilities, exhibitions and installations such as The Hive, which arrived at Kew after the 2015 Milan Expo. The Temperate House reopened in 2018 after a major restoration, and the Children’s Garden opened in 2019. In the twenty-first century Kew has positioned plant and fungal science as central to responses to climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and ecosystem decline. Its work now combines collections, field research, genomic and taxonomic science, seed conservation, restoration, education and partnerships with governments, universities, conservation bodies and funders. The institution remains both a major London visitor attraction and an international scientific network. Its continuing challenge is to preserve historic collections and landscapes while making its research useful to communities facing rapid environmental change.

• 2026

  Kew fundraising charities merge

  [7]Kew Gardens charities merger reportthirdsector.co.uk

  The Foundation and Friends of RBG Kew transferred assets and liabilities to RBG Kew as trustees sought to simplify governance.

• 2025

  New Director of Gardens appointed

  [3]RBG Kew appoints Director of Gardenskew.org

  Raoul Curtis-Machin was appointed to lead gardens and horticultural work at Kew and Wakehurst, succeeding Richard Barley.

• 2022

  Climate research investment announced

  [6]Kew Gardens secures climate-change investmenttheguardian.com

  A proposed investment programme sought to accelerate commercial applications of Kew-related research in climate-resilient agriculture, low-carbon fertiliser and alternative foods.

• 2019

  Children’s Garden opens

  [3]RBG Kew appoints Director of Gardenskew.org

  Kew opened a dedicated children’s garden designed to introduce younger visitors to plants and nature.

• 2018

  Temperate House reopens

  [3]RBG Kew appoints Director of Gardenskew.org

  The Temperate House reopened after a five-year restoration, renewing one of Kew’s major historic glasshouses.

• 2016

  The Hive arrives at Kew

  [10]The Hive arrives at Kewen.wikipedia.org

  The Hive, a large installation exploring relationships between pollinators and plants, was transferred to Kew after the Milan Expo.

• 2012

  Richard Deverell becomes director

  [1]Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew official executive boardkew.org

  Richard Deverell was appointed director and subsequently led a strategic effort to connect Kew’s global science more closely with public engagement and conservation.

• 2003

  UNESCO World Heritage inscription

  [5]Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew UNESCO nomination materialwhc.unesco.org

  Kew Gardens was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic landscape, buildings and contribution to botanical science and horticulture.

• 1983

  Statutory framework created

  [9]Statutory framework createdapply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk

  The National Heritage Act 1983 provided the statutory basis for the modern Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

• 1923

  Bedgebury National Pinetum founded

  [8]Bedgebury National Pinetum foundeden.wikipedia.org

  Kew and the Forestry Commission jointly founded Bedgebury National Pinetum in Kent, specialising in conifer collections.

• 1840

  Kew becomes a public botanical institution

  [4]RBG Kew Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  The gardens were established as a public institution and began a sustained expansion of their scientific, horticultural and educational functions.

• 1759

  Botanical garden established at Kew

  [5]Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew UNESCO nomination materialwhc.unesco.org

  Princess Augusta established an early botanical garden at Kew, providing the foundation for the later institution.

A globally respected botanical and mycological science institution that connects rigorous research and conservation with public gardens, education and cultural engagement.

• Botanical garden and visitor attraction · 1759

  Kew Gardens

  The historic 132-hectare garden in southwest London combines landscaped gardens, living plant collections, glasshouses, arboreta, heritage buildings, museums, galleries, restaurants, events and educational activities. It is both Kew’s principal public venue and an operational base for plant science, horticulture and conservation.

• Wild botanic garden and conservation site · 1965

  Wakehurst

  Wakehurst is Kew’s Sussex site, operated on National Trust land. It provides a large-scale setting for horticulture, woodland management, public programming and conservation science, and hosts the Millennium Seed Bank, one of the world’s leading facilities for wild plant seed conservation.

• Seed conservation programme · 2000

  Millennium Seed Bank

  Based at Wakehurst, the Millennium Seed Bank conserves wild plant seeds collected through partnerships with institutions and communities around the world. Its collections support research, species protection, habitat restoration and the development of practical responses to biodiversity loss and climate change.

• Herbarium, living collections and botanical data · 1840

  Kew scientific collections

  Kew maintains extensive living plant collections, preserved plant and fungal specimens, botanical illustrations, books, databases and taxonomic resources. These collections underpin identification, classification, conservation assessments, ecological research and scientific education.

• Education and professional training · 1840

  Horticultural education and training

  Kew provides learning for schools, families, students, gardeners and professionals through courses, apprenticeships, interpretation, events and digital resources. Its training connects practical horticulture with plant conservation, garden management, botanical knowledge and public engagement.

• 2022Climate and biodiversity innovation programme

  International

  Kew partnered with Greensphere Capital’s Gaia Sciences Innovation climate incubator around research intended to address climate-resilient crops, low-carbon fertiliser, alternative proteins and other sustainability challenges.

  Outcome. The announced programme aimed to add researchers and help translate selected botanical and fungal research into scalable applications and potential companies.

  Source
• 2019Children’s Garden

  United Kingdom

  Kew opened a dedicated play and learning environment designed to help children explore plant life, natural processes and outdoor environments.

  Outcome. The facility expanded Kew’s family audience and made early engagement with plants and nature a visible part of its public mission.

  Source
• 2015The Hive at Kew

  United Kingdom

  Kew adopted The Hive, an immersive architectural and educational installation originally created as the UK Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015. It uses the structure and sound of a beehive to explain pollination and the importance of plant-pollinator relationships.

  Outcome. The installation became a prominent public interpretation feature at Kew and strengthened the organisation’s use of contemporary design to communicate scientific themes.

  Source

• 2026

  Merger of Kew fundraising charitiesM&A

  Background

  Kew’s trustees sought to simplify the governance of two charities supporting the gardens and its work.

  Action taken

  The Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew transferred its assets and liabilities to RBG Kew on 1 March 2026, including responsibility for the Orchid Fund endowment.

  Aftermath

  The foundation was expected to be wound up during the financial year, leaving fundraising and supporting assets within the larger RBG Kew structure.

  Net assets transferred. £20.2 million (Transfer completed 1 March 2026)

  Source

• 2025

  Gardens leadership successionOther

  Background

  Richard Barley was due to return to Australia after approximately twelve years at Kew, requiring a change in leadership for gardens and horticulture.

  Action taken

  Kew appointed Raoul Curtis-Machin, formerly of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, as Executive Director of Gardens.

  Aftermath

  The appointment placed living collections, horticultural excellence, conservation and proposed net-zero glasshouse work under new leadership.

  Source

• 2022

  Commercialisation of climate researchStrategy

  Background

  Kew sought to increase the practical and economic impact of research addressing climate change, food security and biodiversity loss.

  Action taken

  Kew worked with Gaia Sciences Innovation and Greensphere Capital around a proposed investment programme for climate-resilient crops, low-carbon fertiliser, alternative foods and related plant and fungal science.

  Aftermath

  The programme was intended to support additional researchers and move selected discoveries toward commercial scale, although the cited announcement does not establish the final amount invested or the number of resulting businesses.

  Intended investment ceiling. Up to £100 million (Announced 2022; intended programme)

  Source

• 2014

  Restructuring during funding pressureStrategy

  Background

  Kew faced a significant funding shortfall during 2014–15, creating pressure on its public, scientific and horticultural operations.

  Action taken

  The organisation undertook restructuring and publicly explained its financial requirements, including evidence given to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee.

  Aftermath

  A revised four-year government funding settlement was announced in 2016, providing a more stable basis for the organisation’s planning.

  Source

• 2026

  Kew charities agree to merge[7]Kew Gardens charities merger reportthirdsector.co.uk

  M&A · Other

  The Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew transferred net assets reported at £20.2 million to RBG Kew as part of a governance streamlining decision; the foundation was expected to be wound up during the relevant financial year.

• 2025

  Raoul Curtis-Machin appointed Director of Gardens[3]RBG Kew appoints Director of Gardenskew.org

  Leadership change

  Kew announced that Raoul Curtis-Machin would join its executive leadership from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, succeeding Richard Barley and overseeing horticulture, living collections and gardens work at Kew and Wakehurst.

• 2022

  Kew Gardens secures investment for climate and biodiversity research[6]Kew Gardens secures climate-change investmenttheguardian.com

  Other

  Greensphere Capital’s Gaia Sciences Innovation climate incubator announced an intended investment of up to £100 million in Kew-linked and other research aimed at commercialising work on climate-resilient crops, low-carbon fertiliser and plant- and cell-based food products.

1. 1Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew official executive boardkew.org
2. 2Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew organisational structurekew.org
3. 3RBG Kew appoints Director of Gardenskew.org
4. 4RBG Kew Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
5. 5Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew UNESCO nomination materialwhc.unesco.org
6. 6Kew Gardens secures climate-change investmenttheguardian.com
7. 7Kew Gardens charities merger reportthirdsector.co.uk
8. 8Bedgebury National Pinetum foundeden.wikipedia.org
9. 9Statutory framework createdapply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk
10. 10The Hive arrives at Kewen.wikipedia.org