This very young specimen was planted in January 2002 by Barking Council to create a future focal point in Barking Park. It looks a little sparse at the moment and is surrounded by a few dead tree stumps, but Giant redwoods are real survivors, so hopefully this one will in time thrive and mature into a wonderful landmark visible for miles. Well done to Barking Council for an excellent choice of specimen tree. On a brief visit in 2010 it was good to see this young tree in good health, having put on weight in foliage. I have noticed that young trees often suffer a bit of a setback for several years when they are first planted. This should give encouragement to anyone who is concerned about their young Giant Redwood saplings. By the way, the "dead tree stumps" in the background were obviously still very much alive after their drastic haircuts in 2005!
Visit information
- Access
- Open to public
- Last verified
- 11 Apr 2026
- Official site
- redwoodworld.co.uk/picturepages/barking.htm
Redwood species here
Native to the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, giant sequoias were introduced to Britain in the 1850s during the Victorian plant-collecting era. They are the world's most massive trees by volume and have thrived in the UK's mild, wet climate, often growing faster than in parts of their native range. Many Victorian-era plantings now rival mature specimens in California.
Present. Native to the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, giant sequoias were introduced to Britain in the 1850s during the Victorian plant-collecting era. They are the world's most massive trees by volume
Field observations
Photos
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Redwood at Barking - Barking Park
About this place
About Barking - Barking Park
Barking - Barking Park is located in Barking, Essex, England.
Species Present
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
Native to the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, giant sequoias were introduced to Britain in the 1850s during the Victorian plant-collecting era. They are the world's most massive trees by volume and have thrived in the UK's mild, wet climate, often growing faster than in their native range. Many Victorian-era plantings now rival mature specimens in California.
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
The tallest trees on Earth, coast redwoods can exceed 100 metres in their native California. Less common in Britain than giant sequoias, they prefer sheltered, moist locations and can still reach impressive heights in the UK. The tallest known coast redwood in Britain is over 50 metres.
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
A deciduous conifer thought to be extinct until rediscovered in a remote Chinese province in 1941. Seeds were distributed to botanical gardens worldwide in the late 1940s. Unlike its evergreen relatives, the dawn redwood loses its needles in winter, turning a striking copper-bronze in autumn.
Access
This location appears to be publicly accessible. Please check locally for current opening times and any admission charges.
Data sourced from Redwood World (redwoodworld.co.uk) and enriched by Redwood Finder.