From Ancient Earth to Life on Mars: A New ‘Time-Travel Gardens’ Experience Launches at Chirk Castle

Created in partnership with National Trust Cymru, Stori Brymbo and Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, all based in Wrexham, the new immersive garden experience has transformed the castle’s central courtyard into a living exploration of Earth’s past, present and possible future.

Opening on Saturday 23 May as part of the new Wrexham Heritage Trail, the installation invites visitors to reflect on climate change, biodiversity and sustainability through science, nature and imagination.

Visitors to the gardens will travel through more than 314 million years of history and climate change, exploring spaces inspired by the past, present and future - from prehistoric fossils and contemporary herbaceous planting to a futuristic vision of sustaining life on Mars - while reflecting on how Earth has changed and how the choices we make today could shape the world of tomorrow.

Lizzie Champion, General Manager at Chirk Castle, says:

“‘Time-Travel Gardens: From Ancient Earth to Life on Mars’ is a fantastic example of partnership working, bringing together organisations from across the Wrexham borough to explore the story of our changing climate through nature, science and imagination.

“By looking at the past, present and future side by side, we hope visitors will reflect on the environmental challenges we face today, and the importance of protecting our planet and landscapes for generations to come.

“As part of the Wrexham Heritage Trail, we are proud to be working alongside so many incredible attractions to showcase the richness and diversity of Wrexham. It’s a brilliant opportunity to encourage visitors to explore, connect and discover more of what the region has to offer, while celebrating collaboration across culture, heritage and science.”

The garden is divided into three themed sections, each representing a different point in time:

The Past: This section was created in collaboration with Stori Brymbo, a community-led heritage attraction opening in June 2026 that tells the area’s 300-million-year story, from its ancient Carboniferous forest origins through industrial innovation and decline to the present day.

It transports visitors back to the Carboniferous period around 314 million years ago - long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Real fossils of horsetails, club mosses and fern fronds discovered in the Brymbo area are displayed among lush fern planting, rocks and dramatic oversized willow dragonflies inspired by the supersized insects that once inhabited prehistoric forests.

The Present: Representing Chirk Castle and National Trust Cymru, the central section celebrates the landscapes and gardens of today while highlighting the delicate balance that sustains life on Earth.

Through herbaceous planting, grasses, seating areas and a willow dome bench, it reflects contemporary garden design alongside the reality of rapid climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. It also showcases conservation work across the Chirk Estate and beyond, including meadow and tree planting and habitat restoration for protected species, all contributing to efforts to restore nature and protect the planet’s future.

The Future: The final section was created in collaboration with Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, a hands-on science discovery centre in the heart of Wrexham, and celebrates the opening of its brand-new planetarium, where visitors can travel through the solar system, discover dazzling constellations, and uncover the mysteries of the universe.

This futuristic section of the garden asks what happens next - could “Welcome to Life on Mars?” become reality if Earth becomes harder to live on? With planet stepping stones and a hydroponics wall, it encourages visitors to consider how humans might adapt to life beyond Earth. It highlights the harsh conditions on other planets, and acts as a warning of what Earth itself could become if climate change continues.

Wrexham’s new heritage trail

The installation has been developed as part of the new This is Wrecsam Heritage Trail, a collaborative initiative led by some of Wrexham’s most loved and distinctive attractions.

The family-friendly trail officially launched on 1 May and encourages residents and tourists alike to discover the rich mix of heritage, culture, and science at 8 attractions across the Wrexham county borough.

Participating sites include Chirk Castle and Garden, Erddig Hall and Garden, Stori Brymbo, Wrexham Miners Project, Football Museum of Wales and Wrexham Museum, St Giles Church, Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Visitor Centre. Also included in the trail is Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham’s award-winning markets, arts and community hub and home of the city’s Visitor Information Centre.

With maps available across participating sites, at Wrexham Visitor Information Centre, and online, visitors are encouraged to collect stickers at each attraction as they explore the trail and engage with interactive experiences along the way.

Katie Williams, Business Development Officer at Xplore! Science Discovery Centre says:

“Xplore! Science Discovery Centre has been part of the fabric of Wrexham for more than 20 years, inspiring families from across the region and beyond. Working in partnership as part of the Wrexham Heritage Trail has allowed us to create a richer visitor experience that showcases Wrexham as a destination for families looking for something unique and memorable.

“Our partnership with the National Trust through the Time-Travel Gardens project is a fantastic example of how collaboration can create something far greater than the sum of its parts.

It has been an absolute privilege to work with the team at Chirk Castle, alongside the team at Stori Brymbo, to help bring this shared display to life. Exploring themes of time, climate change and the possibility of life on other planets has been both exciting and inspiring, and we hope visitors of all ages will enjoy discovering those connections for themselves.”

Nicola Sawford, Chief Executive at Stori Brymbo, says:

"This project has been an incredible opportunity and an innovative way of connecting together the past, present and future of Wrexham through the collaboration of 3 very diverse Wrexham Visitor Attractions.

We're really excited to be giving visitors a peak into what the world would have looked like in Wrexham 314 million years ago, alongside a fascinating display of our world today and the possibilities for the future across the Time-Travel Gardens.

The partnership between Stori Brymbo, Xplore!, and the National Trust has brought an incredible feature to an already stunning location, and something that we are delighted to have been a part of leading up to the opening of our site at the end of June. It's a taster of the incredible fossil forest we have discovered which we can't wait to share with the public!"

Time-Travel Gardens: From Ancient Earth to Life on Mars’ is open throughout 2026. Normal admission charges apply for all attractions participating in the ‘This is Wrecsam Heritage Trail’.