Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and predecessors: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Correspondence and Papers

Fine gardens have been established since medieval times on the land now occupied by the Royal Botanic Gardens (RGB), Kew in south-west London where property was acquired by Frederick, Prince of Wales in 1730. In 1759 his widow Princess Augusta appointed William Aiton to develop a physic garden there. Many newly-discovered exotic plants were brought to Kew under the direction of Lord Bute and in 1772 the gardens passed to the Crown. George III's scientific advisor, Sir Joseph Banks, developed the gardens as a major international centre for the collection and study of exotic and useful plants.

After Banks's death in 1820 the gardens declined until, in 1838, a parliamentary committee of inquiry into royal gardens reported in favour of government management. In 1840 Kew was placed under the control of the Commissioners of Woods and in 1903 passed to the control of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.

RBG Kew's primary function is an international centre for research and information on plant and fungal systematics, identification and uses. The gardens are open to the public and are internationally renowned. In 1965 RBG Kew took over the management of the gardens and mansion at Wakehurst Place, near Ardingly in Sussex, formerly owned by Sir Henry Price (1877-1963), who bequeathed the estate to the National Trust.

On 1 April 1984 control of RBG Kew was transferred to a Board of Trustees under the National Heritage Act 1983. One trustee is appointed by HM the Queen: the chairman and the remaining ten trustees are appointed by the agriculture minister. The administration is headed by a director appointed by the trustees.