KS5 Plant conservation: Kew's Millennium Seed Bank

Pupils visit the renowned Millennium Seed Bank to discover its vital role in the worldwide conservation of plant biodiversity.

Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst

Level

Key Stage 5

Duration

2 hours

Allocated space

20 pupils per session

Pupils visit Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world, and see ex situ conservation in action. An introduction to the work of the seed bank is followed by a visit to the public gallery.

 The visit may include going behind the scenes, depending on numbers and specifications. Time to see some of the conservation projects in the gardens that support and complement the seed bank’s work can be agreed at the planning stage.

This session makes up a half day or part of a full day visit that is tailored to suit the needs of your group and is planned in detail with a Wakehurst teacher prior to the visit. One other workshop makes up a full day visit.

Learning outcomes

Educational visits at Wakehurst support and enhance the curriculum offered in schools and colleges. We aim to give pupils opportunities that are difficult or impossible to create in the school or college environment.

We design our sessions to match the learning outcomes in the national curriculum and exam board specifications.

This session offers pupils the opportunity to:

  • Understand the need for conservation and the work of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership.
  • Consider the international implications of conservation and the need for cooperation.
  • Explore ex situ conservation in action.
  • Investigate the processes involved in seed conservation and the underlying scientific principles.
  • Consider further studies and a possible career in science.

Curriculum links 

This KS5 visit supports and enhances the curriculum offered in schools and colleges.

A Level Biology

AQA

3.7.4 Populations in Ecosystems  

Edexel
Biology A - 4.16 Biodiversity and Natural Resources
Biology B - 3.3 Biodiversity

OCR A

4.2.1. Biodiversity

IB Biology

C.4 Conservation of biodiversity  

A Level environmental science

3.1.2 Conservation of Biodiversity

The board walks sweeping through the wetlands

Key Stage 5 sessions

These programmes are planned in detail and tailored to suit your A Level specifications.