Featuring giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). Verified occurrence recorded by Redwood World. Thanks to Sue for the information that led to the inclusion of this magnificent tree. The Giant Redwood has pride of place in the garden of Milsoms Hotel & Restaurant, just a few yards from the terrace. Although not especially tall, this Wellingtonia has earned its high position in the Broadest Table on the Top Trunks page . It looks as though the tree has lost its top at some point through lightning or a storm, probably some decades back. This would explain the greater girth than would have been expected for its height, as well as the growth of two or three additional "leaders". Although this means it does not have the usual tall columnar form of its type, it has resulted in a more voluminous canopy that actually appears more suited to the rest of the garden. There are many other nice trees in the garden including another ancient tree, the Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhead tree). This is shown in the bottom right picture and has a seat built around its trunk.
Visit information
- Access
- Restricted access
- Last verified
- 10 Apr 2026
- Official site
- redwoodworld.co.uk/picturepages/dedham4.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
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
Dawn redwood is a deciduous redwood from China, known from fossils before living trees were documented in the 1940s. It reached British collections soon afterwards and is now found in parks, botanic gardens, and arboreta, where its soft summer foliage and rusty autumn colour make it distinct from evergreen giant sequoias and coast redwoods.
Present. 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 relativ
Field observations
Photos
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Redwood at Dedham - Milsoms Hotel & Restaurant
About this place
About Dedham - Milsoms Hotel & Restaurant
Dedham - Milsoms Hotel & Restaurant is located in Dedham, 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 may have restricted access. Please check with the property before visiting.
Data sourced from Redwood World (redwoodworld.co.uk) and enriched by Redwood Finder.