Vital Kew Conservation

Thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is celebrating a milestone for its UK National Tree Seed Project which has now safeguarded over 13 million seeds from trees across the UK.

Society depends on plants more than we realise - for the food we eat, the air we breathe, the medicines we take and much more. One-in-five plant species are currently at risk of extinction and Kew's conservation work has never been more important. If we don't take measures to protect them, we risk losing not only the plants that we already depend on but those we have yet to discover, which could hold the solutions to some of humanity's most pressing challenges.

Protecting Trees And Woodlands

Kew is protecting biodiversity through the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, the world's largest wild plant seed bank, described by Sir David Attenborough as, "perhaps the most significant conservation initiative ever."

Kew and partners from over 100 countries have gathered two billion seeds from the world's rarest and most important species. Frozen in time, the seeds are stored in air-tight containers in -20°C vaults. Once banked, the species is conserved even if it becomes extinct in the wild. Through the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, player support is helping Kew to protect the UK's woodlands and some of Africa's most threatened trees.

In 2013, Kew launched the UK National Tree Seed Project in response to the pests and diseases, temperature changes and extreme weather events putting our native trees at ever-increasing risk. Over the past seven years, with the support of more than 400 volunteers from 30 partner organisations the project has collected 13 million tree seeds from over 70 different species. Seeds from right across the UK, from Cornwall to the Isle of Harris have now been conserved in the Millennium Seed Bank. It is hoped these time-traveller seeds will offer future possibilities for both research and conservation and can be used to grow a new generation of trees in centuries to come.

Richard Deverell, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said, "As we've seen with Ash dieback, pests and pathogens can inflict huge damage on our woodlands and the many plants and animals they support. Building up this seed collection of the nation's most important tree species is a vital step in combating the challenges facing our native trees. We can't thank players of People's Postcode Lottery enough for their support in helping to ensure the future of our woodlands."

Social Distancing? Explore Kew Virtually!

Right now, the Coronavirus and current social distancing requirements are leaving most of us stuck indoors. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is sharing daily content, inviting people to escape the confinement of their homes and enter the weird and wonderful world of plants and fungi. Visit Kew's website to find behind-the-scenes footage capturing the wonders of its gardens. Why not take a Virtual Visit To Kew? Kew can bring the gardens to you. You could drop into a tropical paradise or see the Millennium Seed Bank for yourself?

Find out more about the superb Charities supported by our players. They've raised a stunning £500 Million for good causes so far, and you can join in by signing up to play. Check out How It Works - you could be in with the chance to win fantastic Prizes every day!