£78m Darwin 'cocoon' for nature's exhibits

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The £78million Darwin Centre will be one of the world's most important biological collections when it is completed in September. Experts describe it as the museum's most significant development since it moved to South Kensington in 1881.

The 65m long and 28m high glass-clad structure has taken 280 workers 25 months to build and, with temperature regulated at 17C, provides perfect conditions for hosting some of the planet's rarest life-forms.

Today curators begin moving more than 17million insects and three million plants on to 40,000 shelves. When viewing areas are open, visitors will be also able to watch 200 scientists at work.

Museum director Dr Michael Dixon said: "There is no other museum in the world that brings the public and scientists together in this way or on this scale."