The Present: Inside the world’s largest seed bank

The Millennium Seed Bank holds over 2.5 billion seeds – but where do they all come from, and how do they end up in those deep underground vaults?

In this episode of Unearthed: The need for seeds, Cate Blanchett joins UK Seed Conservation Coordinator Ted Chapman and UK Conservation Projects Officer Isabel Negri on a seed-collecting mission in the South of England. Searching for yellow rattle, she learns how scientists balance collecting enough for research while leaving nature undisturbed.

Seeds also arrive from across the globe. Nattanit Yiamthaisong, a PhD student, shares how her research at the MSB is helping her understand how temperature affects germination — skills she’ll take back to her forest restoration work at Chiang Mai University.

Back at Wakehurst, Seed Curator Sian McCabe guides Cate through the labs where seeds are dried, cleaned, and x-rayed before being sealed deep in the vaults — the beating heart of this global effort to protect plant life for generations to come.

You can support the vital work of the Millennium Seed Bank by donating here: www.kew.org/seeds

Unearthed - The need for seeds is a Fresh Air production for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Series Producer: Hannah Fisher, Executive Producer: Annie Day, Director of Content: Michaela Hallam. Sound Design by Dan King.

With special thanks to everyone at Wakehurst and the Millennium Seed bank who helped with the production behind the scenes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.