There are 60,000 to 100,000 wild plants all over the world that are at risk of extinction, and others that we would not want to live without. The goal of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank is to collect seeds from these plants as a safety net. Some are stored at their facility in Wakehurst Place (UK). Others are collected by Kew's partners around the globe. On Thursday 15th October, the MSB announced that it had completed it's first goal - to save seed from 10% of wild species. The next goal is even tougher - 25% by 2020 - and they need our help to do it.

The keen gardeners who listen to The Alternative Kitchen Garden show understand how vital plants are to our existence, and the need for saving seed. Many of them save their own fruit and vegetable seeds at home, helping to protect valuable heritage varieties and the biodiversity of our familiar food crops.

I want to take that further and encourage AKG fans to contribute to protecting useful plant species on a larger scale. The Millennium Seed Bank are asking for donations - you can adopt a seed for £25 to help ensure it's survival. But I would like to go one further and save an entire species, which costs £1000 or £2000 depending on the species chosen. From the current list I would choose Origanum syriacum (the most economically important edible wild plant in Lebanon) if we hit £1,000 or Oldfieldia dactylophylla (a multi-purpose fruit tree from south central Africa), if we can raise £2,000.

Whether we hit those goals or not, any money collected will go directly to the MSB to help them continue their work - so please have a look in your PayPal account or rifle through the sofa cushions and see whether you have a little bit of cash you can spare to save a plant.

Many thanks
Emma Cooper, author and podcaster
The Alternative Kitchen Garden

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