Last updated: 22 November 2022
| Address and contact details | |
| Ardingly, Haywards Heath, W Sussex, RH17 6TN | |
| Tel: 01444 894000 | |
| Fax: 01444 894069 | |
| Email: [initial.name]@rbgkew.org.uk | |
| Web site: www.rbgkew.org.uk | |
| Latitude: 51° 04' 06" N | |
| Longitude: 0° 04' 59" W | |
| Background to the collection | |
| Year founded: | 1965 |
| Ownership: | Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew |
| Umbrella organisation: | PlantNetwork, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens |
| Personnel | |
| Director: | Professor Stephen D. Hopper |
| Curator: | Andy Jackson |
| Head of HorticultureDavid Hardman: | |
| Contact person: | David Hardman |
| Total Staff: | 175 |
| Total Horticultural Staff: | 35 |
| Policies | |
| Accessions: | Accessions only taken for specific planting schemes in areas of the estate (targeted). |
| Collections: | Wild-source material to fit phytogeographical scheme. Cultivated material to fit 50-year landscape plan. |
| Physical environment | |
| Altitude: | 400 foot |
| Soil type: | Clay, acid |
| Aspect: | Varied |
| Total area: | 202 ha |
| Area heated: | 1000 m² |
| Other sites of collection: | Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Castle Howard |
| Weather records | Records kept |
| Temperature | |
| Av. monthly max: | 20 °C |
| Av. monthly min: | 0.5 °C |
| Absolute maximum: | 38.9 °C (10 Aug 2003) |
| Absolute minimum: | -10 °C (Jan 2009) |
| Wind | |
| Direction: | Southwesterly |
| Strength: | Average |
| Rainfall | |
| Average annual: | 893 mm |
| Month of maximum: | October |
| Month of minimum: | June |
| Plant collection | |
| Families: | 212 |
| Genera: | 1040 |
| Species: | 2470 |
| Taxa: | 5339 |
| Accessions: | 16882 |
| Plants: | For the combined Royal Botanic Gardens Kew collection see the entry for the <a href="k.htm">Royal Botanic Gardens Kew</a>. |
| Geographical area(s) of specialisation: | |
| Northern Europe, Southwestern USA, South-Central USA, Southeastern USA, Soviet Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Caucasus, Northwestern USA, Western Asia, Western Canada, Eastern Canada, Western South America, China, North-Central USA, Southern South America, Eastern Asia, Northeastern USA | |
| Special families within the collections: | |
| Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Araceae, Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Ericaceae, Taxodiaceae, Hypericaceae, Rutaceae, Zingiberaceae, Aceraceae, Taxaceae | |
| Special genera within the collections: | |
| Arisaema, Betula, Nothofagus, Skimmia, Hypericum, Rhododendron, Erica, Calluna, Sequoiadendron, Pinus, Quercus, Abies, Picea, Chamaecyparis, Cardiocrinum, Hedychium, Acer, Taxus, Telopea, Hebe | |
| Special collections: | |
| Betula, NCCPG Skimmia, NCCPG Nothofagus, NCCPG Hypericum, NCCPG | |
| Record Keeping: | Kept since 1834 Computerised since 1968 |
| Record System: | UNIX SYBASE |
| Plant-collecting trips: | International and national |
| Facilities on site | |
| Herbarium: | Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew |
| Library: | Based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew |
| Research facilities: | Millennium Seed bank |
| Publications: | Garden guide, Index seminum (for seed bank only) |
| Identifications: | Internal verification of material |
| Teaching and Education: | Primary, secondary, higher, taxonomic and public education |
| Interpretation: | Supervised garden walks, signs, brochures, guided trails, lectures. Interactive displays in Millennium Seed Bank building |
| Friends Organisation: | Yes |
| Visitor facilities: | Restaurant, café, plant shop, book shop, gift shop, Wellcome Trust Millennium Seed Bank 'Orange Room' |
| Access to the collections | |
| Public access: | Admission charge |
| Visitors per year: | 450,000 |
| Public opening hours: | Mon-Sun: 10am-6pm summer, 10am-4.30pm winter |
| Guiding principles behind the collection | |
| The mission of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew is "To inspire and deliver science-based plant conservation worldwide, enhancing the quality of life" | |
| Location map | |
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