Greenhouse attraction could close

A famous London greenhouse attraction is under threat from a lack of funding that has seen it go almost 30 years without undergoing major maintenance.

The Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew is the oldest remaining Victorian glazed building at the site, but needs major investment in refurbishment works to remain open, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reported.

However, that is only the beginning of the problems for the site – a report found that it may have to spend a total of £20 million to bring its glazed structures up to standard, while a further £60 million could be required to complete other necessary repair and maintenance work.

Despite being one of the UKs premier horticultural attractions, Kew is suffering from a lack of funding that is also stifling the important research carried out at the site.

According to the report, a number of positions have remained unfilled due to a lack of finance, while resources are being channelled away from research and into fundraising.

In other news the RHS has given its members some advice on handling potting compost, which has been linked to Legionnaires disease in the media recently.