A project which aims to safeguard 24,000 plant species has won a National Lottery grant of more than £2 million.
The Millennium Commission today announced its final tranche of lottery awards, which total more than £2.5m for schemes in the South-East.
They include £2.1m for the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place, Kew's sister gardens near Ardingly, and £126,199 to the Kent and East Sussex Railway for the restoration of three antique carriages.
Tessa Jowell MP, chairwoman of the Millennium Commission and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: " One of the great threats facing the world is the loss of our biodiversity.
"Every day unique plant species are lost forever, plants which might meet vital needs in the future.
"The Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place is protecting our biodiversity by collecting and storing seeds. Our new grant of £2.1m will enable them to collect and preserve more seeds from across the world."
The seed bank at Wakehurst is the largest in the world, and forms part of an international initiative to protect plant species.
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