Kew Gardens was given the seal of approval by the president of Singapore last week.

Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife visited the Royal Botanic Gardens on Friday, October 24, to celebrate and strengthen scientific and cultural connections between Singapore and Kew as part of a state visit to the UK.

Since 1875, Kew Gardens and Singapore Botanic Gardens have worked together to build links between the sites and their scientific research.

During the visit to the Unesco World Heritage Site, Lord de Mauley, government minister for the Royal Botanic Gardens, announced a programme to host a number of scientists, horticulturalists and interns from Singapore at Kew.

Kew will also send its mycology experts to Singapore to build capacity on the science of fungi in the region.

Lord de Mauley said: "I am very pleased to announce that the long-standing connections and collaborations between our great institutions will be deepened and strengthened over the coming years.

"Through our shared interests in science, horticulture and heritage, these collaborations will be a wonderful illustration of the enduring bonds between our nations.

"I lived for five very happy years in Singapore in the 1990s and the Singapore Botanic Garden was one of my favourite places. It sits right at the heart of Singapore. I see the knowledge and expertise of the scientists and horticulturalists at Kew as being equally central to the beating heart of the UK’s wellbeing and prosperity."

Lord de Mauley also announced Kew Gardens will open its archives to Singapore researchers to show support for their bid to become a world heritage site.

Richard Deverell, director of Kew Gardens, said: "We were delighted to host president Tan and Mrs Tan and to have the opportunity to tell them about our historic and contemporary connections to Singapore.

"We look forward to further collaborating with them in the future, starting with the sharing of our knowledge on the science of fungi in the region this November."