Our Aims and Activities

Status and Funding

Under the National Heritage Act 1983 the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body with exempt charitable status.

We receive a substantial proportion of our annual funding as grant-in-aid from our sponsoring department, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Other income is received from visitor admission charges, catering, RBG Kew Enterprises (trading, hirings, events and retailing), the activities of the Foundation and Friends, and grants and donations from individuals and organisations.