Kew Wakehurst celebrates five years of Nature Unlocked programme with research findings and new studies - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

• Nature Unlocked launched in 2021, transforming the landscape into a living laboratory
• Early results reveal pollinator numbers in Sussex and wildlife behaviour in response to climate
• Wakehurst Ecosystem Observatory is open for collaborative studies
• New studies announced looking at wind resilience of trees, wildlife diversity and nature connectedness

On World Biodiversity Day, 22 May, Kew Wakehurst is celebrating five years of Nature Unlocked, the pioneering research programme that uses the site’s diverse habitats as a living laboratory to harness the power of UK landscapes in the face of climate change, as every living thing depends on plants and fungi. Since launching in 2021, Nature Unlocked has generated crucial scientific data to understand how nature can help solve environmental and social issues, from biodiversity loss to mental health crises. Now, scientists are scaling up the studies and creating a network of regional living laboratories that protect biodiversity and strengthen the natural systems we all depend on.

Susan Raikes, Director of Kew Wakehurst commented: “Nature Unlocked has truly transformed Wakehurst into a botanic garden with a purpose, positioning the site as a national centre for biodiversity research and innovation alongside Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of wild seeds. Through Nature Unlocked, we’re getting closer to our landscapes than ever before, and the closer we get to nature, the more we understand our place in the world, and the more we can help everyone understand why nature needs protecting.”