Cate Blanchett made first-ever ambassador for Wakehurst

Actress Cate Blanchett has accepted an invitation from Kew’s wild botanic garden in the heart of Sussex to help highlight the global impact of its ground-breaking work.

Considered to be one of the most biodiverse places on earth, Wakehurst, near Haywards Heath,  aims to find science-based solutions to some of the most pressing challenges that the planet faces.

Through her advocacy the 54-year-old, who has a home in Crowborough, hopes to raise awareness of the work of Wakehurst’s Millennium Seed Bank.

Wakehurst’s Millennium Seed Bank (Image: PA)

Confirming the news on Earth Day, a worldwide day focused on support for environmental protection, Blanchett said: “I am delighted to be Wakehurst’s inaugural ambassador. I find the work done here to be utterly inspiring, and a genuine insurance policy against extinction of wild flora and fauna. The Millennium Seed Bank is a beacon of hope and international cooperation at a time when we’ve never needed it more.”

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Already a regular Wakehurst visitor, Blanchett enjoys walks in the 535 acres of diverse and unspoilt landscape, filled with plants from around the world.

 “Apart from it being a rich hub, Wakehurst is such a beautiful place to lose yourself in nature, in the immense varieties of trees, plants and grasses, that I want to help spread the word about this unique and stunning landscape that positively impacts all of our lives,” she said.

Blanchett, best known for her roles in films including Carol, Lord of the Rings and Elizabeth, joins an existing programme of eleven esteemed ambassadors and champions who support the work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, including fellow actors Dame Judi Dench, Emilia Fox and Kim Cattrall, botanist James Wong and garden historian and TV presenter Advolly Richmond, among others.

Richard Deverell, director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: "I am really delighted to welcome Cate into our fantastic ambassador programme. She has been a powerful advocate on social and environmental issues throughout her career and I know she holds special affection for our wild botanic garden, Wakehurst, home to the Millennium Seed Bank.

“We look forward to working with Cate to bring the wonders of what we do to a wider audience and to celebrate nature together."

Wakehurst offers visitors a stunning mix of formal gardens, wild meadows, woodlands and wetlands. There is also a chance to set foot inside the Millennium Seed Bank which houses an incredible collection of over 2.4 billion seeds from around the globe, stored underground to preserve them for the future.

Marilena Reina, head of marketing and strategic communications at Wakehurst, said: “Wakehurst is so much more than a walk in a beautiful wild botanic garden: it is a vital living laboratory where conservation science thrives across our biodiverse landscapes and in our labs. With Cate’s support we want to share why Wakehurst matters, and the reasons connecting to and protecting nature for future generations is so important.”