Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (Wakehurst)

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United Kingdom - West Sussex - Haywards Heath

Institution Code: K

BGCI Member: Yes

Wakehurst in Sussex
Wakehurst in Sussex

About the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (Wakehurst)

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex is home to the Millennium Seed Bank and over 500 acres of the world’s plants including temperate woodlands, ornamental gardens and a nature reserve. It is situated in the High Weald of Sussex, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and focuses on wild plant collections. The Millennium Seed Bank houses and protects seeds from the world’s most substantial and diverse collection of threatened and useful wild plants, making it the most biodiverse place on earth.

The gardens are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and are owned by the National Trust.

Main Address:
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (Wakehurst)
Wakehurst
Ardingly
Haywards Heath
West Sussex RH17 6TN United Kingdom

Telephone: 01444 894066
Fax: 01444 894069
URL: https://www.kew.org/wakehurst
Primary Email: wakehurst@kew.org

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Ed Ikin
    Curator's Name: Jo Wenham, Propagation and Collections Manager
    Plant Records Officer's Name:

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: State: Yes
  • Date founded: 1965
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
  • Total Area: 202 Hectares
    Latitude: 51.067847
    Longitude: -0.084165
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres
    Total area of glasshouses: 1000 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Arboretum: Yes
  • Seed Bank: Yes
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 400000

Plant Collections

  • Cultivation Taxa Num: 5339
  • Special Collections:Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Ericaceae, Taxodiaceae, Hypericaceae, Rutaceae, Zingiberaceae, Aceraceae, Taxaceae. Betula, Nothofagus, Skimmia, Hypericum, Rhododendron, Erica, Calluna, Sequoiadendron, Pinus, Quercus, Abies, Picea, Chamaecyp

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: Yes

Research Programmes

  • Ecology: Yes
    Ecosystem Conservation: Yes
    Education: Yes
    Horticulture: Yes
    Invasive Species Biology and Control: Yes
    Pollination Biology: Yes
    Restoration Ecology: Yes
    Seed/Spore Biology: Yes
    Land Restoration: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes