The Bedgebury National Pinetum in Kent is launching a £3m project to safeguard its conifer collection and build education and visitor facilities to encourage public support.

Owned and managed by the Forestry Commission, the Pinetum has 7,000 trees on its 127hectare site, many of which are conifers which are critically endangered due to pollution, deforestation and over-logging. The site is surrounded by the 2,600acre Bedgebury Forest. Plans include increasing the tree collection to 100 per cent of the world’s conifers capable of being grown in the temperate zones.

Following a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and an on-going fund-raising drive, the development project will involve creating new visitor facilities including a restaurant, gift shop, naturally bedded new lake and sustainable timber building and living roof.

Longer term plans include the building of a biome to enable Bedgebury to include tropical conifer species.

The education centre is to provide indoor and outdoor teaching spaces, research opportunities and adult education. Students will be taught how conifers play a vital role in everyday life, supplying paper, oils for ink, household cleaners, cosmetics, drugs, perfume and other products.

The Yew collection has been the subject of medical research into alternative cancer treatments such as taxol, used in the treatment of breast cancer.

Bedgebury is also a gene-bank for endangered trees. Renewable systems will be incorporated including reed filtration to turn waste into clean water and a woodchip boiler providing heating and hot water.

The Heritage Lottery Commission has pledged £1m. Bedgebury launched the British Conifer Society this year at the Chelsea Flower Show. Details: www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk