Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBGK) submit plans for new water tanks at its Lower Nursery to serve the site-wide irrigation system.

The proposed water tanks are to be installed at within the Lower Nursery back-of-house area, to the north-west aspect of Kew Gardens, close to the River Thames and behind the Brentford Gate car park.

Kew Gardens say the Lower Nursery water tanks project is an important part of the Year 1 implementation of its wider irrigation strategy and has been selected for the large, sealed surface area of unused water catchment which can provide rainwater to help fulfil the irrigation demand and make Kew "more sustainable and climate resilient."

Exisiting elevations for the Lower Nusery area (credit: Planning application).

Proposed elevations for the Lower Nusery area (credit: Planning application).

In its planning application, Kew Gardens explain: "Water is a crucial resource for RBGK: a significant proportion of Kew's precious living collections require irrigation throughout the year.

"Historic infrastructure has limited the amount of rainwater used on-site in recent years, and the gardens are currently reliant on mains water, therefore this is a key area that RBGK wishes to improve on through developing their irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems."

RBGK is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding collections as well as its scientific expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world.

To read the full application click here.

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