Press Release

Living exhibition at St Paul's highlights the importance of tackling global warming

October 2006

Olive trees, palms, fig trees, and a cedar of Lebanon are among a collection of trees which has been transported from Sussex for a living exhibition which opens today (Tuesday 3 October) at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

The Millennium Seed Bank Project Kew, based at Wakehurst Place in Ardingly, West Sussex and part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has been invited to create a Trees of Life installation at St Paul's.

The cathedral display, featuring trees from the bible, is part of a programme of autumn events at the cathedral, organised by the St Paul's Institute, called Costing the Earth? The Quest for Sustainability.

The exhibition runs until 6 December during which time it is expected to have been viewed by around 700,000 people.

The collection of trees includes a Mauritius bottle palm which was grown from seed at the Millennium Seed Bank, as part of project work to conserve and protect the species. Garden staff from Wakehurst Place transported the trees to London for the exhibition.

The exhibition focuses on the impact of climate change and highlights the vital importance of protecting plants threatened by global warming. It also provides information on the trees' theological significance.

The Millennium Seed Bank Project is the largest seed bank for wild plant species in the world, and aims to collect, conserve and research seed from 10% of the world's plants by 2010. The seeds stored in the seed bank are an insurance policy against the threat caused by climate change.

A series of educational workshops will be organised for primary and secondary school pupils by Wakehurst Place's learning team, in conjunction with the exhibition, to show how everyone can make a difference and play their part in tackling global warming.

Dr Paul Smith, Head of Millennium Seed Bank Project, said: "Taking trees to a cathedral is one of the most unusual requests we have received, and we are delighted to have been invited to take part in this prestigious exhibition.

"It is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the need to protect the environment and the threat from global warning, and highlight the work of the Millennium Seed Bank Project in protecting species under threat from climate change."

The Millennium Seed Bank is working in partnership with around 30 countries across the world and activities include monitoring the effects of climate change on plant diversity, banking the seed of wild species, reintroducing threatened species to the wild, and restoring natural habitats.

Canon Edmund Newell, Director St Paul's Institute, said: "Responding to climate change and learning to live sustainably is something that affects each and every one of us. St Paul's Cathedral is delighted to be working in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Wakehurst Place on this project, to raise awareness of moral and spiritual dimension of these vital issues as well as highlight the amazing work of the Millennium Seed Bank project."

St Paul's Institute was founded in 2002 as a public forum for reflection and debate on the spiritual and ethical challenges of our times, including environmental and social issues.

Ends

FURTHER INFORMATION

Millennium Seed Bank:   Andy Jackson (01444) 894054 or Sarah Moss (01444) 894112

St Paul's Institute :   Elizabeth Foy 020 7489 1011

NOTES TO EDITORS

Millennium Seed Bank

The world's greatest concentration of plant life is cared for in the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place.   The vaults now hold 950 million seeds representing 15,000 species from 126 countries.   Stored at -20 degrees Celsius in a 100 meter square vault, most will last for more than 200 years.   Seeds from 96% of the UK's flowering plant species are already in the bank.    Work continues with partners around the world to collect seed for future safeguarding, restoration and research.

Costing the Earth?   The Quest for Sustainability

This autumn, St Paul's Cathedral focuses on the issues of climate change and sustainability, with a programme which brings together leading theologians, scientists, economists and environmentalists.  Key note speakers are James Lovelock, visionary scientist and the originator of the Gaia theory, in conversation with Claire Foster, Advisor to the Church of England on Environment on 10 October, and Jeffrey Sachs, Professor of Sustainable Development at Columbia University, in conversation with Nicholas Sagovsky, Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey on 19 October. On 7 November a panel of Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, Sir David King, Chief Scientific Advisor to HM Government, Satish Kumar, Jain ecologist and editor of Resurgence Magazine, Tim Smit, Chief Executive of the Eden Project, and Dr Linda Yueh, economist and China specialist at Oxford University and the LSE will debate Does Creating Wealth Cost the Earth? The programme continues with services, study days, sixth form work and a retreat. For more information please contact Elizabeth Foy on 020 7489 1011 or elizabeth@stpaulscathedral.org.uk .

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