Think of biodiversity and you may not automatically think of leafy West Sussex. But Wakehurst, near Haywards Heath, can legitimately lay claim to being the most diverse place on the planet thanks to its pioneering Millennium Seed Bank.
The Royal Botanic Gardens site is currently home to over 2.4 billion seeds of 40,000 different plant species from around the world, held in underground storage to conserve them for the future. Its diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within 535 acres of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows and wetlands.
You can watch scientists at work on Wakehurst’s research and conservation projects, discover bespoke art and enjoy family trails through the spectacular site, or simply immerse yourself in the incredible landscape filled with fantastic plants – including the tallest living Christmas tree in the UK.
Wakehurst is part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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Banner photo: Wakehurst Millennium Seed Bank (credit, copyright – Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Jim Holden)