The President of Singapore will be guest of honour at Kew Gardens next week two days after unions and supporters meet to discuss its ongoing financial troubles.

Tony Tan Keng Yam, and his wife will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site next Friday (24) to celebrate historic (and future) scientific and horticultural collaborations dating back to 1875.

The state visit to the UK begins three days earlier when the couple are due to be officially welcomed by Prince William and his wife Kate.

It will be the first official engagement for the Duchess of Cambridge, who is pregnant with her second child, since she was laid-low by another attack of acute morning sickness.

On the flip side of the coin from the celebrations, Wednesday (22) will see three unions - Prospect, PCS and the GMB - seek to step up pressure over the impact of staff and budget cuts.

The trio have organised a meeting on 22 October to further raise awareness of the threat faced by Kew and to seek support from the public.

Speakers include Richmond’s tory MP Zac Goldsmith, Hayes and Harlington’s Labour MP John McDonnell and Leslie Manasseh, Prospect deputy general secretary.

The unions believe cuts at Kew puts its position as a national asset at risk.

Negotiator Julie Flanagan said despite the recent announcement by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg of a reversal of this year’s budget cut, Kew remains under threat.

She said: “Kew faces year-on-year cuts and unless we can persuade the government to change its position, Kew will axe even more expert staff.

“The cuts are unsustainable and a contradiction because it is the staff who are in the best position to generate income.”

During the President’s visit Lord de Mauley, the government minister for the Royal Botanic Gardens, will announce a programme to host a number of scientists, horticulturalists and interns from Singapore.

A fellowship has also just been awarded to Kew by the Singapore Botanic Gardens with a focus on conducting research into fungal diversity in South East Asia.

In 1877 Kew Gardens gifted 22 rubber trees to Singapore that became the catalyst for the revolutionary rubber industry of the region.

The SBG is seeking to become a UNESCO site itself and Kew will be opening its own archives up in a bid to help them achieve this aim.

Lord de Mauley said: “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. 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.”

The public meeting takes place on Wednesday (22) 7-8.45pm, at The Avenue Halls, The Avenue, Kew TW9 2AJ.