Kew seeks £1 million for Palm House renovation

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has launched a public appeal for £1 million toward a £66 million renovation of its Palm House, a Victorian glasshouse whose iron frame and glazing are deteriorating. Kew says about half of the project’s total funding has been secured through grants, philanthropists and other individuals. Donations up to £300,000 will be matched, according to the appeal terms. The Palm House, which opened in 1848, shelters a collection of tropical plants, including threatened species. Kew says corrosion in the building’s ironwork and damaged, weathered panes need to be addressed to protect both the structure and the plants it contains. The appeal is intended to help fund the wider renovation; the reports do not establish how much has been raised toward the new £1 million target. Plans include replacing glazing and installing renewable heating systems. Kew aims to make the restored Palm House a net-zero or carbon-neutral glasshouse, while conserving its historic structure. One report also describes plans for rainwater harvesting, but the core project details reported across the appeal materials focus on new glazing and lower-carbon heating.