To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Gardens, The King has recorded a special podcast episode with Cate Blanchett, Ambassador for Wakehurst and Dr Elinor Breman, Senior Research Leader.
The podcast, “Unearthed: The need for seeds” marks 25 years of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB), the world’s largest underground seed bank and conservation resource for diverse wild plant species. Many of the tiny seeds held there hold solutions to climate change and habitat loss that are vital for the future of our planet.
Created in 2000, the MSB is now home to over 2.5 billion seeds ensuring they are safeguarded against extinction.
His Majesty has been Patron of Kew since 2016, and for more than five decades, has used his unique position to champion action for a sustainable future.
In the podcast, they discuss the MSB and its origins, some of the most exciting achievements in the past 25 years as well as ongoing work around the world today, including in Australia and South Africa. Together they reminisced about the origins of seed science, and The King demonstrated his knowledge of the science and practice of conservation techniques.
His Majesty officially opened the Millennium Seed Bank, located at Kew’s wild botanic garden in Wakehurst, Sussex, in 2000.
The King has taken an active interest in its progress since the Seed Bank was opened, returning to visit in 2019.
‘Unearthed: The need for seeds’ is available now wherever you get your podcasts.
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