Director - Professor Sir Peter Crane FRS

Highlights of Peter Crane's years at Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a unique centre of excellence that brings its world-leading work in science and conservation into the public arena through its two visitor attractions - among the most successful in the UK with over 1.4 million visits last year. Kew's science programmes now reach around the globe in support of sustainable conservation and biodiversity projects.

During Peter Crane’s administration, the main achievements have been in the following areas:

Science and Conservation

Strengthening research and conservation programmes

RBG Kew is more active today than at any time in the past. There are more joint projects at national and international than ever before. Productivity in science is most often measured in terms of the number of publications – be they articles in scientific journals or books. In the past six years at Kew publications have outstripped all targets, and a record number of ‘high-impact’ papers have been produced. In parallel with this record academic achievement, Peter Crane has presided over an important cultural shift so that Kew’s scientific output is now more carefully tailored to its actual and potential users, and there is a new emphasis on producing information that is of direct relevance to conservation and sustainable use. This strategic shift in focus was endorsed and applauded by an international team of leading scientists who conducted a major independent review of Kew science in 2001.

Opening and development of the Millennium Seed Bank Project

The Millennium Seed Bank Project is a massive effort in plant conservation with the aim of protecting 10% of the world's plant species – especially from arid and semi-arid lands before 2010. In 2001 collection of UK seeds was completed, and in the past six years 17 international agreements for seed collecting have been signed, including an important agreement with the People’s Republic of China in May 2004.

Developing, funding and implementing online access to Kew’s resources

Kew has amassed, saved and studied scientific treasures from across the world over 250 years. In the past few years, a key objective and major achievement has been increasing the intellectual access to these collections across the world via the worldwide web. There are a number of projects that have been developed funded and made accessible – some in highly innovative ways – to share scientific knowledge with the broadest possible community of specialist and non- specialist users. Unique resources being made widely accessible for the first time by this route range from some of the world’s rarest and most lavishly illustrated books to images of dried plant specimens collected by intrepid Victorian explorers, often the first gatherings of species previously unknown to science.

Influencing biodiversity policy

Peter Crane and Kew’s senior scientists made an important contribution to the public debate on biodiversity science stimulated by the 2001-2 House of Lords inquiry into systematic biology and biodiversity. On the international scene, Kew continues to be a pioneer in the interpretation and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and was at the forefront of the development of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Peter Crane is now actively promoting major international initiatives designed to ensure delivery of some of the key targets outlined in this strategy.

Achieving new levels of international co-operation

In the past few years Kew has pursued its goals in connection with limiting the trade in endangered species with increased vigour. Training and information dissemination involves working with partners all around the globe. Under Peter Crane’s leadership Kew’s international co-operative links have been strengthened and diversified. New collaborations which have been formed and funded over the past three years include a group of European institutions focused on seed-banking for conservation purposes and a rapidly growing network is digitising and delivering to Africa information hitherto concentrated in major natural history collections in Europe and the US. There is also a new and unprecedented level of co- operation between Kew and the major botanical gardens in the United States.

Developing capacity in overseas conservation projects

The Director has been particularly active in ensuring that Kew is not simply an advisory body. Wherever possible, projects are structured in order to strengthen the ability of partner organisations and host countries, with sustainability as a key goal. Many international post-graduate students receive training at Kew and Kew’s overseas projects are now carefully crafted to result in lasting benefit and improved understanding.

Infrastructure, Support and Heritage

Designation as a World Heritage Site brings with it increased responsibilities for maintaining the 40+ listed structures, while the need for expanded space for science and visitor services continues.

Major heritage and other projects

  • Restoration of Orangery and Nash Conservatory.
  • Jodrell Laboratory Extension, on target for completion May 2006.
  • Alpine House, completed and due to be opened to the public in March 2006.
  • Victoria Gate Visitor Centre, major improvement to visitor facilities near completion.
  • Climbers and Creepers, the UK’s first botanical play/learning zone for children, was completed in June 2004.
  • New reservoir and water system to irrigate the gardens nearing completion.
  • Major new Visitor Centre at Wakehurst Place, and award-winning re-build of the Stable Restaurant.

Streamlining and modernising administrative arrangements

Peter Crane has carried out vital internal restructuring, including development of a modern commercial approaches, and considerable strengthening of the charitable foundation, that together generate some 40% of Kew’s running costs.

Diversifying finances

Over the five year period, Kew has established a more diverse financial base. Funds from the public purse are now supplemented from a variety of other sources. Even so, significantly increased capital funding has been provided by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Major grants have also been secured by the Mellon Foundation, Moore Foundation, Wolfson Foundation and many other sources.

Visitors and Education

Attracting larger and more diverse audiences

Steady effort has resulted in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, becoming among the top four or five most-visited paying attractions in the UK, often bucking the downward seen at other destinations. Wakehurst Place is now the most visited National Trust property in the country. (Wakehurst is owned by the Trust but managed by Kew.) The combined attendance at Kew and Wakehurst is now well over 1.5 million. A quarter-of-a-million of these are children, who visit without charge – free admission for children was one of Sir Peter Crane’s key policies introduced early in his time at Kew.

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