Kew Gardens launches £1m appeal to save historic Palm House

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has launched a £1 million public fundraising appeal to support the renovation of its historic Palm House. The Victorian glasshouse, a Grade I-listed structure designed by architect Decimus Burton and built by iron-founder Richard Turner, requires a total makeover estimated at £66 million due to nearly 180 years of deterioration caused by extreme heat and humidity.

While approximately half of the total funding has already been secured through grants, philanthropists, and individuals, the gardens are seeking additional public support to safeguard the building and its collections. Donors can contribute through direct donations or by sponsoring specific tropical plant species or glass panes. Donations up to £300,000 will be matched.

The Palm House serves as a vital living laboratory, housing an internationally significant collection of plants, including species that are rare, threatened, or extinct in the wild. It is also home to the Eastern Cape giant cycad, which is believed to be the oldest potted plant in the world, having arrived at Kew in 1775. The collection supports essential research into biodiversity loss, conservation, and food security.