Six guides to species, history, and place.
Each written for people visiting redwood places — what you're seeing, where the trees came from, and why they're here.
The three redwoods
Giant sequoia, coast redwood, and dawn redwood — what makes each species distinctive, how to identify them, and the names you'll encounter in the UK.
- Species identification
- Field characteristics
- Common confusion points
History in Britain
From the first seeds brought from California in 1853 to the remarkable trees found across estates, arboreta, and parks today — the story of redwoods in Britain.
- Victorian introduction
- Planting history
- Why Britain has so many
Identification guide
Bark, cones, needles, silhouette — how to identify a redwood in the wild and distinguish the three species.
- Bark and texture
- Cones and seeds
- Silhouette and form
Measuring trees
How height and girth are measured, what champion trees are, and why the measurements here may differ from other sources.
- Height measurement
- Girth and circumference
- Champion trees
Visiting responsibly
Keeping roots healthy, respecting private land, and finding places worth supporting.
- Root zone care
- Access and land
- Supporting places
UK context
Why Britain is an unusual habitat for redwoods, and why the trees have thrived in some unexpected places.
- Climate and habitat
- Regional variation
- Why it works