Kew here for drought tips

Staff let lawns go brown to save water for rare plants

- LYDIA VELJANOVSKI

IF your lawn has turned yellow and your flowers are wilting, then spare a thought for the staff at Kew Gardens.

Not only do they have 300 acres of parched grass to look at, they also have some of the world's rarest plants to care for and lots of them.

And after 146 days with little or no rainfall, they are having to be selective about their use of water.

In the drought conditions those brown lawns come bottom of the list and will have to wait for the rains to return.

Faye Adams, alpine and rock garden supervisor, explains that although Kew Gardens does not have to comply with hosepipe bans due its rare and important plants, they do have a responsibility to be conscious of the issues and be strategic about water use.

The team is choosing to prioritise certain plants, and watering others less as a result of the weather conditions.