Unlocking nature's secrets: Kew's digitisation triumphs of 2023

We are thrilled to share the incredible milestones achieved through our groundbreaking Digitisation Project in 2023. This ambitious endeavor has propelled us into a new era of botanical exploration and conservation. 

Join us on this exciting journey as we recount the spectacular successes that have unfolded, all thanks to the dedication of our remarkable team and the support of nature enthusiasts across the world. 

1. Hitting 1 million specimens, and then 2 million soon after! 

In July, we proudly announced the digitisation of one million specimens, a feat that captured the imagination of plant enthusiasts globally. And then, just four months later, we doubled that number, reaching a staggering two million digitised specimens!  

Among these specimens, we’re delighted to have fully digitised a number of plant families including our legumes collection (the largest in the world), Araceae and Asteraceae (AKA Compositae). 

Our Herbarium at Kew contains more than 7 million plant specimens, of which 10% or around 700,000 are legumes, making it one of the greatest collections of leguminous plant material in the world. 

At present, we are rapidly digitising an impressive 70,000 specimens each week, a testament to the relentless commitment of our incredible Digitisation Team.  

3. We revealed specimens from Wallace and Darwin!

Delving into our extensive collection, we uncovered treasures that had remained hidden for generations. Specimens meticulously collected by the pioneering naturalists Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin were among the gems we unearthed.

These exciting discoveries not only add to our understanding of these remarkable scientists and their botanical exploration, but also reveals a lot about the ecosystems of the regions they visited, providing a window into the past that today's scientists can use for climate modelling and conservation.

5. Harnessing global support: Plant enthusiasts raised thousands for the project

In a historic first for Kew, we established a channel for enthusiasts worldwide to directly contribute to the preservation of our prestigious specimens. The response was overwhelming, totaling an incredible £8105 from just a handful of donations.  

This outpouring of support demonstrates the shared passion for safeguarding the botanical heritage housed at Kew and the vision to unlock these specimens for researchers to use around the world to help save people and planet. Immortalise your own piece of botanical history and help unlock nature's secrets – donate to the project today. 

As you can see, we’ve already achieved so much within just the past 12 months with the power of collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to preserving the wonders of the natural world.

As we continue this exciting journey, we invite you to get involved with the Digitisation Project and become part of the discoveries and triumphs in the ever-evolving realm of botanical exploration at Kew.  

From joining our impressive team of over 2000 volunteers to donating, see our opportunities below and become a part of something that is creating a brighter future for all.