Public Servant Lifestyle

Leaves from Kew Gardens in Wakehurst Place are going to the continent to be turned into life-saving drugs.

Kew Gardens is helping in the fight against cancer. Leaves from the gardens are going to the Continent to be turned into life-saving drugs. The leaves, from the country garden at Wakehurst Place, near Ardingly, come from yew trees. More than 80kg of clippings have been collected to harness the natural chemicals that help to produce anti-cancer drugs in France.

Ranger Vivien Hall said: "The weather was glorious and in no time we had sacks full of the clippings. This is a perfect example of how important plants are to the human race, and why Kew's conservation work is so important to prevent species becoming extinct before scientists have been able to find out about them."

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew dates from 1759 when Princess Augusta, the mother of George III, started her own botanic garden. It was given to the nation by Queen Victoria in 1841 and has the status of an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body.

One of the world's leading botanic gardens, Kew is estimated to hold more than 1 in 8 of all known plant species, the gardens at Kew and Wakehurst Place offer a unique day out in stunning surroundings for lovers of plant life of all descriptions.

Kew, which is recognised around the world as a centre for excellence for the study of plant diversity, is made up of 132 hectares of gardens containing many rare plants, and buildings of special architectural or historic interest, including the world-famous Victorian Palm House.

Kew Gardens has been such a success that it has been chosen as the UK's nomination for World Heritage Site status. Arts minister Tessa Blackstone said: "I'm delighted that we have nominated Kew Gardens. As well as being world-famous for its study of botanical diversity, Kew is also renowned as a major cultural landscape and deserves World Heritage Site status. Its gardens illustrate how people have interacted with the natural environment over the years, and the way in which landscape design and the design of garden buildings have evolved from the 18th century to the present day."

Lord Whitty, science minister at the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), said:"I am delighted that the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew has been chosen for nomination as a World Heritage Site. The institution rightly has an important place in this country's national heritage and I believe that it will continue to have a major national and international role as the leading centre of excellence for the study of plant diversity."

The UK's World Heritage Sites are currently:

Cultural:

- Ironbridge Gorge
- Stonehenge, Avebury & associated sites
- Durham Castle & Cathedral
- Studley Royal Park & Fountains Abbey
- Castles & Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynned
- Blenheim Palace
- City of Bath
- Hadrian's Wall
- Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey & St Margaret's Church
- Tower of London
- Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey & St Martin's Church
- Edinburgh Old and New Towns
- Maritime Greenwich
- Heart of Neolithic Orkney
- The Historic Town of St George, Bermuda & Related Fortifications
- Blaenavon Industry Landscape
- The Derwent Valley Mills
- Saltaire
- New Lanark.

Natural:

- Giant's Causeway
- St Kilda
- Henderson Island, Pitcairn Group
- Gough Island Wildlife Reserve, St Helena Group
- Dorset and East Devon Coast.

For more information, why not visit the Royal Botanic Gardens website and plan your trip today?

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