Featuring coast redwood. Verified occurrence recorded by Redwood World. The woods contain a relatively rare abundance of Coast Redwoods and just two Giant Redwoods, the latter are located either side of a path, perhaps at the start of a grand entrance to the estate in days gone by. The twelve Coast Redwoods are situated either side of the stream. Many fallen trunks littering the woodland floor give the impression that fairly strong winds must whistle through this 42 acre wood. Fallen trees have been left on the ground over many decades, giving Gobions wood a slightly eerie feel of a place that time forgot. It is interesting to note that, aside from where they were undercut by the stream, the Redwoods seem to survive the ferocious winds far better than the other types of tree. Although the Coast Redwoods must enjoy the constant source of nearby water, there are a couple that have fallen where the water line has shifted towards the tree and has eroded the soil beneath them. One looks precariously close to toppling into the stream (September 2009). It is likely that when they were planted they had plenty of room, so it is worth bearing in mind that a stream will meander over the decades or centuries. It is a shame that the large trees are lost but Coast Redwoods do not give up even after losing their trunk, as can be seen in the first photograph. Beside the bridge, a fallen trunk lies, yet sprouting from the remains of the stump there are several new shoots.
Visit information
- Access
- Open to public
- Last verified
- 10 Apr 2026
- Official site
- redwoodworld.co.uk/picturepages/brookmanspark.htm
Redwood species here
Native to the fog belt of coastal California and Oregon, coast redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth. In Britain they thrive where rainfall, humidity, and sheltered woodland conditions echo their native range, forming narrow, soaring avenues and groves with reddish fibrous bark and flat fern-like foliage.
Present. 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 impr
Field observations
Photos
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Redwood at Brookmans Park - Gobions Wood
About this place
About Brookmans Park - Gobions Wood
Brookmans Park - Gobions Wood is located in Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, 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.