Sir Isaac Newton's Apple Tree - The Winners!
Saplings from Sir Isaac Newton's Tree were auctioned off to 10 winners, including: a school, a descendant of Sir Isaac Newton and a Woolsthorpe Manor neighbour.
The Story
- Woolsthorpe Manor tells the story of Sir Isaac Newton, from his birth there, to the discoveries made in his Year of Wonders.
- A special apple tree stands in the orchard at Woolsthorpe Manor. This is said to be the tree from which an apple fell and which then prompted Newton to ask, 'why do apples always fall straight to the ground'?
- Newton theorised that everything in existence is attracted to everything else and this attraction or power, (we now call it a force), ties the universe together. It wasn't until years later that he published his theories and expressed this vision in a mathematical formula.
- The Tree Council has certified the tree at Woolsthorpe Manor, as one of 50 Great British Trees.
©National Trust Images/James Dobson
The Auction
Europe's largest conservation charity, the National Trust, and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, auctioned off ten saplings in October 2023. These saplings were propagated from the apple tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton's Theory of Gravity and which can still be seen at his birthplace, Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire.
Now cared for by the National Trust, this country cottage is visited by thousands of people a year, wishing to see the spot where one of the greatest scientific discoveries took place.
Image credit: ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris
The tree first put down roots around 400 years ago and people have travelled to visit it as Newton’s Apple Tree for at least the past 240 years.
The auction raised over £30,000, of which Blue Diamond donated 50% to the National Trust, specifically for the ongoing care of Woolsthorpe Manor. This donation is part of Blue Diamond's long term licencing agreement with the National Trust, which will see Blue Diamond Garden Centres giving £1million to the Trust over a 3 year period.
The Winners!
At a presentation ceremony held at Woolsthorpe Manor, the childhood home of Sir Isaac Newton and where he formed his Theory of Gravity, the 10 winners were presented with their saplings. Some of the winners shared what becoming a custodian of one of the most significant trees in scientific history means to them...
One of the winners was the newly built Science, Technology and Research Centre at Haileybury College in Hertford. Simon Heard, Deputy Master of Haileybury, arranged the gift of one of the saplings to the School, thanks to the generosity of a number of parents, and commented;
We have just finished building a brand-new Science, Technology and Research Centre, where we hope pupils will learn about modern research as well as the great scientific discoveries, deductions, theories and advancements, which have taken place over the years, not least the Theory of Gravity.
Having one of Sir Isaac Newton's very own Apple Tree descendants planted and then growing in the landscaped grounds seemed to be too good a chance to pass up! We are so excited that all future generations of pupils coming to the School will be able to work and study alongside such a significant piece of scientific history.
Lincolnshire local, Roger Keeling was delighted to have been successful in his bid and said;
I am awe struck in the presence of great, old trees. The sense of the people and time that have passed under their branches.
Newton’s apple tree has not only seen the passage of time in my home county of Lincolnshire, but forms a thread through centuries, connecting us with Lincolnshire’s most influential child.
This sapling, which will be planted in our home just 10 miles from Woolsthorpe Manor, will continue as a link to Newton. If it survives for over 350 years, as Newton’s tree has, someone will be able to observe an apple, genetically identical to Newton's, falling from its branches just as he did, but in the year 2373.
©National Trust Images/Mike Selby
For the descendant of Sir Isaac Newton, the chance to care for something so intrinsically linked to their ancestor, was not to be missed:
As soon as the family heard about the Newton’s sapling auction, we just knew that we had to have one. Our family is descended from Sir Isaac’s sister, Hannah, so this was a marvellous opportunity to reach back into the history of our family.
We have a cider apple farm near Beaminster, West Dorset, and have been growing apples for 80 years and decided in 2020 to start our own family craft cider company. It had to be called Isaac Cider.
We are thrilled to have a sapling as it will enable us to educate more people on the life and works of our ancestor.
©National Trust Images/James Dobson
Alison and James Abott wanted to bring a piece Newton’s heritage to Cornwall and the parish of St Minver and this prompted them to bid for one of the saplings.
Alison and James moved into a 15th Century Mill, known as Shilla Mill, in March 2021 just as Covid lockdown hit. The property was sadly in a sorry state, so the extensive works began. Shilla Mill itself is famed for being the first property to be built in Polzeath and a working Corn Mill established in 1591. Many years later Sir John Betjeman gained inspiration for his poems in the gardens and subsequently Shilla Mill is mentioned in his published poems.
Alison and James hope that visitors to the area will be inspired to visit the tree and learn the story of its heritage against the Mills own historic backdrop. They plan to open a tearoom at the Mill next April.
Jersey - A long-time supporter of the National Trust both in Jersey and before that in England, this Jersey auction winner decided to bid for one of the saplings due to its special and unique significance in British history. The sapling will take pride of place in her orchard.
Cheshire - One sapling will take pride of place in a Cheshire home, in an orchard the auction winner is creating in its honour, which will also be home to their rescue hens.
Image | Port Quin cove - near Polzeath, Cornwall
Image | Ten winners from across Britain received their saplings at a presentation at Woolsthorpe manor.
WINNERS UPDATE
One year on...
The National Trust and Blue Diamond are following the journey of these very important trees, with the hope that they will still stand in 400 years’ time under the care of their new custodians.
Haileybury College in Hertford
One sapling found a home at the newly built Science, Technology and Research Centre, at Haileybury College in Hertford. The sapling is planted in a position to mirror the tree, which is another descendant from the tree at Woolsthorpe, planted at the Great Court at Trinity College. Both buildings were also designed by the same architect, Wiliam Wilkins, who completed the large quad seen at Haileybury College in the image below.
We are looking after the sapling in a polytunnel for the first winter. It is looking in good health thanks to the excellent grounds team we have and is everything I hoped for, to mirror the tree just outside the great court at Trinity Cambridge.
Cider Apple Orchard in Beaminster, Dorset
Our tree has done really well, we very quickly named it "Pip" and planted it within our Cider Apple orchard so it can pick up a few tips from the older trees on how to grow great apples! It's amazing how much Pip has grown in a year, from a little whip into a leafy sapling!Visitors to our farm shop love to go and have a look at Pip, with many taking photos and coming back to see its growth over the months. We can't wait for Pip to produce its first apple, then we can juice it and add it to our cider!
Alena and Bruce Burrows
Proud owners of one of the saplings, Alena and Bruce Burrows, planted their tree in their garden in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Alena said;
We entered the auction thinking what a great opportunity it would be to be the custodians of the piece of history!
Our little sapling is doing great and is the prominent, central place in our home garden.
It has grown two branches during the summertime and is really starting to look like a tree now.
Susan Syvret
I decided to bid for the tree firstly, due to its special and unique significance in British history. Secondly, it can easily join our other fruit trees in the meadow orchard below our Grade 1 Listed farmhouse and thirdly, I support the National Trust. When the tree was initially planted it measured 40cm above the ground. It has now attained a height of 150 cm.The graft at ground level was inspected & has callused well and there is no evidence of pests or disease. It is located at Morel Farm - a National Trust property in Jersey.
Blue Diamond Garden Centres and the National Trust extend their sincere thanks to all those who bid in this very special auction and continue to look forward to hearing how all the saplings thrive in their new homes as the new custodians take on the mantle of securing the legacy that inspired Newton’s Theory of Gravity.
The National Trust is a much loved and cherished institution, and I am pleased that our collaboration will provide funding for this charitable organisation who for the past 128 years have preserved our heritage and open spaces for all to enjoy.
Tree conservation and preservation is even more relevant and important than ever, and I am delighted that we were able to run this auction and support the National Trust through this.
Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres
Interest in the auction was phenomenal with Blue Diamond receiving more than 1,800 inquiries from potential bidders.
It was wonderful to see that so many people and organisations understood the rarity of this moment and wanted to be custodians of such a significant tree – it’s a clear demonstration of how many people care about supporting the conservation of our natural world.
For one of the saplings to be heading to a Science department, just fills me with joy. I’m sure Sir Isaac would also be thrilled that his legacy continues to inspire the scientists of the future.