| Kew's popular 'mini seed bank' was designed so that anybody
can process and store seeds using the same principles used
in a professional seed bank. It has now been modified and
improved for educational purposes.
The new mini seed bank for teachers comes complete with three
types of seeds that can be used to demonstrate seed drying
- the most important step in successful seed conservation.
A simple set of instructions also shows how the seeds can
be used in classroom exercises to explore seed germination
and seedling growth.
| Conservation and seed
banking are now on the National Curriculum.
Their inclusion is a response to the global importance
of habitat loss and species extinction. This has been
recognised by national governments in treaties such
as the Convention on Biological Diversity. |
Scientists at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Project have adapted
one of Kew's best selling products, the mini seed bank, to
provide teachers at all levels with a resource for educating
young people on aspects of plant conservation.
For schools and colleges with their own gardens or conservation
areas, the mini seed bank kit will enable teachers to develop
their own seed conservation projects involving each of the
critical processes used in a professional seed bank.
• Collecting
• Drying
• Processing
• Storage
• Germination testing
Seeds supplied with the kit could also be used to demonstrate
important principles of plant growth and development such
as tropism, the effects of plant growth regulators and water
stress.
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