How does it work? - your questions answered

We've collected together some of the most common questions asked about the scheme and answered them here.

We hope you'll find the answers to any questions on this page, if not, please do contact us.

What will I receive when I 'Adopt a Seed'?

You will receive a full colour, personalised certificate (as a PDF document that you can download and print off).

If you request an Adoption pack to be posted (additional charge, UK addresses only), you will receive an A4 certificate, photograph of your species, and information about the work of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership (MSBP).

We'll keep you updated through the year with the work of the MSBP and at the end of the year, a reminder to renew your adoption.

Sorry, but we don't send out any actual seeds!

But don't forget you can visit Kew's Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst and see for yourself the work done.

The Adopt a Seed certificate, shown with a photo of the species

What does the certificate look like?

The certificate is full colour, A4 landscape, personalised with the photograph and Latin name of your chosen seed, together with your name.

If you purchase the seed adoption as a gift, the name of the recipient is also shown. You can add a message to either of these as well.

When you complete the payment, you will receive an email confirmation which will have a link to down the certificate in pdf format.

If it is a gift, the recipient will receive an email telling them you have purchased them a seed adoption and a link to the certificate (if you supply their email address during the payment process).

What if my adoption is a gift for more than one person?

The adoption certificate will be sent to you via email, therefore you can forward it on or print it off as many times as you need.

If you requested an Adoption pack to be posted (there is a £2.00 charge per pack that is sent by post, UK addresses only), this will be sent to your designated address. Only one pack per seed adoption can be posted.

What if I want the adoption pack posted overseas?

We are only able to post the packs to UK addresses (additional cost applies).

The pdf certificate can be forwarded on, or purchased as a gift and the recipient will automatically receive an email with a link to their certificate.

Storage in the vaults at the MSB, Wakehurst, West Sussex

How does your money actually save a species? Many of the species that we are offering have already been saved, so where is your money actually going?

The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is a project of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All plant species which are listed as part of the Adopt a Seed, Save a Species campaign are species of which seeds have already been banked, both at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) at Wakehurst, in West Sussex and in their country of origin.

If you choose to save a species outright we would be extremely grateful. Your donation of £1,000 or £2,000 represents the cost to the project of collecting and banking the seed of that species, but your donation will be used to maintain the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership and to collect more species in the future. Your sponsorship of that species will be recognised on the electronic touch-screen register at the MSB at Wakehurst. We will also get in touch to find out how else you would like your special contribution to be recognised. Please get in touch with JIll Taylor on 020 8332 3248 or j.taylor@kew.org if you would like to discuss this further.

By adopting a seed you are making a contribution to the ongoing costs of maintaining Kew's Millennium Seed Bank so that it remains an important resource for the conservation of the world's plant species. In order to recognise your contribution we will send you an Adoption pack which represents our thank you for your donation and which has no commercial value. You will be one of many who adopt a seed from the species you choose; together you will have helped ensure the future not just of that species but of the 10% of the world's species that we have already banked, as well as the next 15% of the world's plant species that we intend to bank in the next ten years.