Candidate World
Heritage Site
Draft Management Plan
Why is Kew Gardens important?
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a rich historical landscape which
has developed through centuries of scientific and cultural evolution.
The Gardens are currently recognised as a global centre of excellence
in the study of plant diversity and economic botany. They hold the
world's largest documented living and preserved plant and fungal
collections, and have played a leading role in plant collection
and study since the late 18th century.
The site is an internationally important historic garden landscape
illustrating key periods in garden design from the 18th, 19th and
20th centuries, including work by William Kent, Charles Bridgeman,
William Chambers and 'Capability' Brown. The Gardens also contain
a large number of architecturally important buildings, including
the 17th century Kew Palace and two of the world's finest surviving
examples of Victorian glasshouse technology; the Palm House and
Temperate House.
Kew currently receives over one million visits a year. Its outstanding
assets merit protection for future generations.
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