Kew Gardens: 250 years of the botanical paradise

1765: A view of the Pagoda, one of Kew's best-known features, which was completed in 1762, and the Turkish Mosque, which has since disappeared. Both were designed by Sir William Chambers Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty

1780: The old Kew Palace and gardens, the home of kings George II and George III Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1900: The Alhambra, Pagoda and Mosque Photograph: Time Life Pictures/Getty

1913: Children with their nannies feeding the ducks Photograph: Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty

1930: Workmen cleaning the glass roof of the Observatory Photograph: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty

1938: A gardener at work on plants in a greenhouse Photograph: General Photographic Agency/Getty Images

1940: Amorphophallus titanum, the world's largest flower in full blossom. In ancient Greek, the name means 'misshapen penis' Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A worker in the Palm House, which was designed by Decimus Burton and opened in 1857 Photograph: Kew Gardens

Workers outside the Palm House Photograph: Kew Gardens

1982: Kew Gardens as seen from the Pagoda Photograph: Sten Rosenlund/Rex Features

2003: A peacock in the Royal Botanical Gardens Photograph: Martin Argles

2003: A view of Kew Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

2003: Giant lilies on display Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

2003: Members of the public wander through the Royal Botanical Gardens, which were awarded world heritage status in 2003 Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

2003: The Palm House Photograph: David Sillitoe

2003: The Princess of Wales Conservatory, which was opened in 1987 by Diana, Princess of Wales in commemoration of her predecessor Augusta's associations with Kew Photograph: David Sillitoe

2005: The Sun by Dale Chihuly, part of a glass exhibition Photograph: Rex Features

2006: King George III's country retreat, Kew Palace, which will be opened to the public for the first time after a 10-year restoration project costing £6.6m Photograph: Graeme Robertson

2006: The Davies Alpine House, which opened in March 2006 at the north end of the Rock Garden Photograph: Nicholas Bailey/Rex Features

2006: The Pagoda Photograph: Graham Turner

2007: Acer opalus, an Italian maple tree Photograph: David Levene

2008: Large Reclining Figure 1084 by Henry Moore Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

2008: The Xstrata Treetop walkway. The 18 meter high structure gives visitors the opportunity to view the tree canopy Photograph: Linda Nylind

2008: Tucked away from the public gaze, the Herbarium's unique and extensive collection of preserved plant materials is at the heart of all Kew does. Within it are some 7 million dried plant specimens, gathered over the centuries and from all over the world. The Herbarium is also home to the personal collections of historical esteemed scientists and explorers including Charles Darwin, David Livingstone and John Hanning Speke. Specimens in the Herbarium are meticulously filed in systematic order, according to the characteristics of their flowers, leaves, stems, fruit and roots Photograph: Martin Godwin

2009: Kew Garden's Millennium Seed Bank is celebrated with a summer exhibition, Poppy head seeds, sculptures by Tom Hare Photograph: Martin Godwin