Kew Gardens aims to diversify UK's wild plant population

11:53 17th August 2011

Horticultural institute Kew Gardens has launched a project to help restore diversity within the UK's wild flower population, greenhouse enthusiast might be interested to hear.

The organisation plans to take specimens of rare flowers and create millions of seeds from them for their Millennium Seed Bank.

Wild flower seeds from rare breeds will then be given to horticultural companies in an attempt to get the UK's grassland back to its heyday.

According to the UK National Ecosystem Assessment, the country has lost around 90 per cent of its lowlands grassland, while just two per cent of the current area is highly diversified.

Head of the Millennium Seed Bank's Collecting and Network section Michael Way said the size of meadows in the country were far too small.

"The average size of these meadows is two hectares which is barely enough to support the pollinators and all the other wildlife that inhabit them," he claimed.

Mr Way also suggested that Kew wants to be able to secure the future of a diverse range of wild flowers.