Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated (a) value and (b) maintenance cost is of "Newton's Apple Tree" at the National Physics Laboratory; what right of public access to it exists; and if he will make a statement. [52573] Barry Gardiner: As a non-operational heritage asset, "Newton's Apple Tree" at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is not valued on the Department's balance sheet. Its maintenance costs are not separately identifiable from the general grounds maintenance costs at the Laboratory.
The tree was presented to NPL in 1953 by the director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and is derived from a graft from an old tree at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton and where, according to tradition, Newton was inspired by a falling apple in developing his theory of gravitation. The tree at NPL is one of a number of similar descendants around the world. Public access to this tree is not possible but a similar, and perhaps more directly related, tree can be seen at Woolsthorpe Manor, which is in the care of the National Trust. | 
