Winners of Newton's Space Saplings announced
In 2015 apple pips from the iconic tree at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton, were taken on the Principia mission by British astronaut, Tim Peake to the International Space Station . The pips then spent six months floating in micro gravity as part of the ‘Pips in Space’ project.On their return from space in 2016, the well-travelled pips went to Wakehurst Place, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where they spent 90 days sitting on a bed of agar jelly at 5 C to simulate the winter cold needed to trigger germination. Spring arrived for them in May 2017 when they were warmed to 15C and the young seedlings started to emerge. They have now been nurtured into ‘space saplings’.
The UK Space Agency, the National Trust and Kew, who worked together on the project, teamed up with South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) in Lincolnshire to launch a bidding process to find partners to host the trees and that share a commitment to inspire future Newtons.
The winners of the bid to host a 'Space Sapling' were announced on 12th january 2020 and ASDC were delighted to hear that three of our members have won the bid to host a sapling. Please see the full list below:
The 8 winners who will host Newton’s Space Saplings are:
- Eden Project (Cornwall)
- Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre (Cheshire)
- Brogdale Collections, Home of the National Fruit Collection (Kent)
- Catalyst Science Discovery Centre (Cheshire)
- The Royal Parks and National Physical Laboratory (Middx)
- South Derbyshire District Council, Environmental Education Project at Rosliston Forestry Centre (Derbyshire)
- Woolsthorpe Manor (Lincolnshire)
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (Vienna)
Martin Pearson, CEO of Catalyst said
“We are delighted to have been awarded one of the eight space saplings in the UK. This is an exciting story to inspire all ages. Combining Newton’s gravity to Space Exploration. I hope as many people as possible come to see the Space Sapling and join us at Catalyst in igniting the curiosity of all on the wonder of science.”
Jannette Warrener, Partnerships Manager, Woolsthorpe Manor, said:
“As partners of the UK Space Agency and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the National Trust is looking forward to seeing how the space saplings might inspire the next generation of future Newtons. Newton’s passion for scientific endeavour and study never waned. At Woolsthorpe Manor we want to keep that passion for scientific discovery alive and we would like these saplings, as they mature and grow, to light a fire of discovery in the next generation of scientists.”
