UK nature is in crisis – Help protect biodiversity today
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. In less than a century, we’ve lost more than 97% of our species-rich meadows and grasslands. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank is saving wild plants and restoring ecosystems, but we need your help.
Decades of intensive farming, climate change and pollution have taken their toll on our meadows and grasslands. These landscapes are not only beautiful, but are also vital habitats for rare plants, insect pollinators, birds, and mammals.
As climate crisis accelerates, more species are at risk than ever before. The loss of these wild plants and habitats affects us all, from the food we eat to the air we breathe, making our work at the Millennium Seed Bank more urgent than ever.
What is the Millennium Seed Bank doing to support biodiversity?
The Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst is the world’s largest wild plant seed bank. We collect, conserve, research and share wild seeds from across the UK and around the globe. This ensures species can be regrown and ecosystems restored when habitats are lost to threats like climate change, disease, and natural disasters.
Over the last 25 years, we’ve collected 2.5 billion seeds from over 40,000 plant species and supported over 100 UK restoration projects with seeds, plants and expertise. The next 25 years are critical if we’re to safeguard our planet’s future. As threats to plant life grow, our response must become more urgent.
Join Cate Blanchett to support the work of the Millennium Seed Bank
“Life begins with seeds - and so does our best chance to save it. The Millennium Seed Bank is not just a vault. It is a beacon of hope and international cooperation, at a time when we have never needed it more. I’m proud to support the Millennium Seed Bank, and I’m asking you to join me by making a donation today.”
- Cate Blanchett, Wakehurst Ambassador
Cate Blanchett is Wakehurst’s inaugural ambassador. A regular visitor to Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, Cate is passionate about both the stunning landscapes at Wakehurst, and about the pioneering science that takes place at the Millennium Seed Bank.
Help Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank fight back for nature
Kew is a charity, and we need your support to bring plant species back from the brink of extinction. Donate today and your donation will directly support the work of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank. Right now, thanks to a generous Kew donor, your donation will be doubled - giving twice the power to protect biodiversity and safeguard our plants and habitats.*
*Donations up to £100,000 will be matched by a generous Kew donor. Donations exceeding £100,000 won’t be matched but are greatly appreciated. All donations will directly support the work of the Millennium Seed Bank.
The power of your donation
£10 could pay for keeping 1m3 vault space at -20C.
£25 could pay for an X-ray test to check seed quality.
£50 could pay for cleaning a new seed sample.
£100 could pay for breaking dormancy of a challenging seed.
£500 could buy field equipment for seed collection or storage.
