On the 19th of September 1783 the brothers Montgolfier gave their first demonstration of Balloon flight bearing passengers. While originally humans were proposed for this experiment, because of uncertainty regarding what might happen, it was instead decided to test the flight using 3 animals: a sheep, chosen because they were supposed to have the closest physiology to humans; a duck (being able to fly, ducks were considered unlikely to suffer any problems with altitude) and a cockerel as a kind of halfway control, i.e. chickens, despite being birds, don’t have much experience of high altitudes. The only one of these passengers to be named was the sheep, called Montauciel (“Climb-to-the-sky”). The flight lasted approximately eight minutes and reached an altitude of around 460 metres. All passengers returned to earth unharmed.

Somewhat less than 200 years later, the first living beings not only to leave the ground but also to leave our atmosphere were again animals. Contrary to popular belief this first pioneering mission was carried out by two fruit flies, aboard a U.S.-launched V-2 rocket on 20 February 1947. In 1949 the fruit flies were followed into space by two rhesus monkeys named, somewhat dynastically: Albert I and Albert II (though unrelated). Due to rocket problems, Albert I met his end on the way up, at about 30-39 miles above ground. Albert II got a lot higher – about 83 miles – but didn’t survive the return because of parachute failure. Numerous other monkeys ‘gave’ their lives in pursuit of beyond-world travel in the 1940s – 50s, the death rate for these missions being about 60-70%.

Further attempts at space flight by both the Russians and Americans involved additional monkeys (rhesus and squirrel species) several mice, the Russian dogs: Tsygan, Dezik, and Laika (none of which survived). In 1959 two monkeys, Able and Baker did actually make it back to Earth alive, Baker surviving until 1984. Following them, more dogs, a rabbit (in 1959) some frogs, copious numbers of mice, rather fewer rats, 15 more flasks of fruit flies and a Guinea pig.

The role of animals as space pioneers was finally eclipsed by the flight of the first human: Yuri Gagarin, on April 12th 1961, but even since then, many different species, including fish, spiders, birds, tree frogs, crickets, stick insects, newts and sea urchins, have continued to be launched into space for various reasons. However, as far as I am aware, not one cat has, as yet, ever been sent into orbit.

Clematis Vitalba is the UK’s only native Clematis. A vigorous climber, it can be seen growing through hedgerows at the side of roads and railways, in building sites and, indeed, left alone, will flourish almost anywhere. From early summer it begins flowering, producing tiny but beautifully formed white blooms. These continue throughout the season well into the autumn, while on the same plant, earlier flower heads by now will have started to seed. These seeds, all clad in copious amounts of hairy down to allow better dispersal by the wind, are the reason for its common name: ‘Old Man’s Beard’ which, when seen growing in large clumps, the plant resembles very closely.