Sign petition to protect Kew

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Sign petition to protect Kew from government cuts

Prospect is urging members to sign and share a petition calling on the government to reverse funding cuts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Globally important conservation and science is under threat as a result of a steep reduction in current and future funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Prospect has warned.

Broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough has now called on the government to support Kew Gardens and the crucial role it plays in world conservation and the study of plants.

“Kew has an absolutely crucial role in looking after out botanical heritage and our botanical future. The important thing to remember is that it is the premiere botanical gardens in the world scientifically,” he told local paper the Richmond Guardian after the cuts were announced.

“People who think it is just a place to go to look at pretty flowers and flower beds are mistaking the importance of Kew Gardens,” he said, adding that the Seed Bank is of world importance and should be supported by the government like a proper institution or university.  

An existing £5m deficit will lead to the loss of over 120 posts and further cuts of at least £1.5m are on the cards before the end of 2016. Most of the endangered jobs are in the areas of science and public engagement. 

Prospect negotiator Julie Flanagan said: “Never before has Kew faced such a significant threat to its future. It now needs your help to ensure its globally important plant and fungal collections can continue to be used to support plant and fungal science and conservation around the world.”

In 1983, 90 per cent of Kew’s funding came from the UK government as grant-in-aid. The current amount has dropped to below 40 per cent from this year. Funding was reduced by £0.9m in 2009-10, £1m in 2010-11, and by an extra £0.5m year-on-year thereafter.