Space Garden Opens at Catalyst
The Seeds that went to Space!
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum is delighted to announce the opening of a Space Garden outside Catalyst. The garden, designed and funded by Halton Borough Council is now home to a Sapling grown from apple pips from Sir Isaac Newton’s tree.
British astronaut Tim Peake took the seeds with him when he went to the International Space Station on his Principia mission in 2015. The seeds spent 6 months floating in microgravity to investigate the impact of space travel on seed growth. On their return to Earth they were nurtured into 8 saplings at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, one of which was awarded to Catalyst by Tim Peake after a competitive tendering process. The other saplings were presented to the Eden Project, Brogdale Collections, Jodrell Bank, Royal Parks and National Physical Laboratory, Rosliston Forestry Centre, Woolsthorpe Manor (home of the original apple tree) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna.
Halton Borough Council, Environment Services Department have been caring for the sapling which was planted at a celebratory event at Catalyst on Thursday 20th October where the Space Garden was formally opened by The Mayor of Halton, Councillor Mark Dennett assisted by pupils from Widnes Academy, West Bank.
Speaking at the event, Catalyst CEO Dr Lee Juby said “This is a really exciting story to inspire all ages, from the discovery of gravity to space exploration. I hope as many people as possible come to see the space sapling and I hope this story helps ignite the curiosity in all about the wonder of science. It is a real honour for us to have this tree taking root in Widnes.”
Astronaut Tim Peake sent the following message to Catalyst as he was unable to join us on the day. https://youtube.com/shorts/6vknSh0-fkU
Visitors to Catalyst can see the tree in the garden and find out more about the project from a temporary exhibition in reception. The exhibition was designed and funded by world leading cultural consultancy Barker Langham and features information panels and a free-standing tree containing space stories in the shape of apples, written by year 5 pupils from Widnes Academy.
