Giant Sequoia Open to public

Bedford - Bedford Park

Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

The Giant Redwood in Bedford Park stands in near the centre of the park and has some branches missing on one side where it is close to another tree. There are other redwoods in the park but time constraints meant a more detailed survey was not possible at this time.

Visit information

Access
Open to public
Last verified
11 Apr 2026

Redwood species here

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 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

  • Redwood at Bedford - Bedford Park

About this place

About Bedford - Bedford Park

Bedford - Bedford Park is located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, 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.

Information
Created: 10/04/2026 Last updated: 11/04/2026