Kew Gardens given £2 million to stop decaying

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 bailout, which follows an 8.5 per cent fall in visitors last year, is to be spent securing the future of the Millennium Seed Bank, a unique collection of seeds from around the world.

Kew director Steve Hopper said the one-off payment to the Royal Botanical Gardens was in addition to the annual Government grant that hit £17.6 million in 2008-09.

"We have major heritage structures in a state of decay and we have no guarantee the Seed Bank will be funded beyond 2010," he said. "Our underlying financial position is challenging."

Approximately 50 per cent of operating costs are met by Kew through revenue from ticket sales and refreshments.

But a Kew spokesman said: "The economic downturn and poor summer in 2008 made targets challenging to achieve."