YOUNGSTERS at a children’s hospice are preparing for a universal gardening mission by growing seeds that have been into space.

In September last year, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of British astronaut Tim Peake’s six-month Principia mission.

The seeds have been sent as part of Rocket Science, an educational project launched by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, and the UK Space Agency.

Having spent several months in microgravity, the seeds are due to return to Earth next month before being packaged up and sent to children at Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices.

They will be one of a number of groups to receive a packet of 100 seeds, which they will grow alongside seeds that have not been to space and measure the differences over seven weeks.

The children will not know which seed packet contains which seeds until all the results have been collected and analysed by professional biostatisticians.

Keith Wilson, marketing manager at Naomi House and Jacksplace, said: “We are very excited to be taking part in Rocket Science. This experiment will be a fantastic experience for the children in our care and one that we can link to arts and crafts sessions, astronomy and sensory play.”

The nationwide science experiment will enable the children to think more about how we could preserve human life on another planet in the future, what astronauts need to survive long-term missions in space and the difficulties growing fresh food in challenging climates.

Rocket Science is just one educational project from a programme developed by the UK Space Agency to celebrate Major Peake’s mission to the ISS and inspire young people to look into careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, including horticulture.

Naomi House & Jacksplace offers care and support to hundreds of life-limited and life-threatened children and young people from across Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, West Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

Follow the project on Twitter: @RHSSchools #RocketScience