In brief
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, opened a 1985 time capsule containing seeds of endangered plants and highlighted its extensive seed bank and international collaborations, especially with China, amid a global call to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. Visitors toured the historic Palm House, a living rainforest, and learned of upcoming renovations. The event reflected Kew’s long‑standing commitment to preserving plant diversity and engaging the public in conservation science.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, celebrated a 40th‑anniversary time capsule opened by visitors in early October, a project that began in 1985 when British naturalist David Attenborough buried seeds of endangered plants beneath a blue tile in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The capsule, scheduled to be opened in 2085, is intended to remind scientists that many of the species it holds may be lost by that time. The visit, described by Xinhua, emphasized Kew’s mission to conserve global plant biodiversity and its role in the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, where the urgency to halt loss was underlined.
During the tour, visitors entered the historic Palm House, nicknamed the "living rainforest in London," a Victorian greenhouse opened in 1848 that houses more than 1,000 tropical and subtropical species. The building provides a controlled environment with temperatures and humidity maintained at roughly 80 percent, according to staff member Leaf, to protect the diverse collection. Despite two major 20th‑century restorations, the structure still suffers from rust and peeling paint, and its 1.7‑mile length will close for renovation beginning next year.
Kew, founded in 1759, now contains about 17,000 plant species and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. The gardens also support extensive seed banking efforts, collaborate internationally—particularly with Chinese partners—and host public engagement activities that combine science and society.
