Press Release

MSB book named 'outstanding original concept'

Books written in collaboration with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have won two gold medals at the 2007 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs). Recognised as titles that "take chances and break new ground", both Seeds: Time Capsules of Life and Pollen: The Hidden Sexuality of Flowers were named Outstanding Book of the Year for Most Original Concept.

Seeds was created by visual artist Rob Kesseler and Dr Wolfgang Stuppy, a seed scientist at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank in West Sussex. The book reveals the innermost secret of seeds, presenting their natural history illustrated with exquisite close up photography and electron micrographs. Many of the seeds are from the vaults of the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed collection in the world. Kew recently presented a copy of Seeds to Gordon Brown to mark the banking of its billionth seed.

Pollen, by Rob Kesseler and Madeline Harley, botanical expert at Kew 's Jodrell laboratory, provides an intimate examination of the remarkable journey from plant pollination to fertilisation. Both books provide a source of inspiration for everyone fascinated by the natural world though a stunning display of original images. The titles, published by Papadakis, have already won critical plaudits: Nature described Seeds as "Stunning!", while Pollen was described by BBC Wildlife at taking the reader "far from the dry textbook into a lush world of colour and improbably complex shapes."

Continuing their collaboration, Kesseler and Stuppy are currently editing Fruit; Edible, Inedible, Incredible, exploring the history and mystery of fruit, destined to be a significant contender at next year's IPPY awards.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

The Millennium Seed Bank is the largest wild plant seed bank in the world, owned and managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and located at Wakehurst Place, RBG Kew's site in West Sussex. The Millennium Seed Bank Project is one of the most ambitious conservation projects in the world. By 2010, RBG Kew and its partners will have collected and conserved seed from 10% of the world's wild flowering plant species (c.30,000 species). The Millennium Seed Bank has the capacity to store up to half the world's wild flowering plant species and already holds 88% of the UK 's flora, including more than 75% of its threatened plant species. Species for collection and conservation are prioritised by Kew's partners, all are endangered, rare and of potential economic value. The Millennium Seed Bank Project has been made possible with generous funding from the Millennium Commission, the Wellcome Trust and Orange plc and other donors. The Millennium Seed Bank has no secured funding beyond 2010. For further information, please visit www.kew.org/msbp.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and world-class herbarium, as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Kew Gardens is a major international visitor attraction and its 132 hectares of landscaped gardens attract over one million visitors per year. Kew was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and represents over 250 years of historical landscape. For further information please visit www.kew.org.

Papadakis Publisher is an independent, family-owned company that has been publishing books since 1968. The goal of Papadakis is to produce visually and intellectually stimulating books of the highest quality. Areas of specialisation include architecture, nature and the visual arts. For more information, please visit www.papadakis.net

Technical Information

SEEDS - Time Capsules of Life

Rob Kesseler & Wolfgang Stuppy

Preface by HRH The Prince of Wales

Papadakis, London

ISBN 978 1901092 66 0 - Hardcover - £35.00

POLLEN - The Hidden Sexuality of Flowers

Rob Kesseler & Madeline Harley

Papadakis, London

ISBN 978 1901092 67 7 - Hardcover - £35.00

Information and Images

Please contact Sharon Buckley, Wakehurst Place, Millennium Seed Bank Press Office. Telephone: 01444 894018 Email: msb@kew.org

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