16 places. 3 species. Every UK redwood mapped.
Notable places · selected highlights
Dunoon · Argyll and Bute
Home to one of the most impressive giant sequoia avenues in Britain. Planted in 1863 from seeds brought directly from California, the avenue of over a hundred sequoias creates a cathedral-like approach to the garden. The trees are now among the tallest in Scotland.
Welshpool · Powys
The Leighton Estate near Welshpool contains what is believed to be the tallest giant sequoia in Wales and one of the tallest in Britain. Planted in the 1860s as part of an ambitious Victorian planting programme, the grove includes multiple champion-sized trees in a dramatic hillside setting.
New Forest · Hampshire
A dramatic drive through a double avenue of coast redwoods planted in 1859. The trees now tower over 40 metres above the road and create one of the most striking woodland experiences in southern England. Part of the New Forest National Park.
Tetbury · Gloucestershire
One of the greatest tree collections in the world, with outstanding giant sequoias and coast redwoods among its 2,500 tree species. The sequoias here include some of the finest specimens in England, planted in the Victorian era when the arboretum was established by Robert Holford.
Species overview · quick routes
The largest tree by volume on Earth. Introduced in the 1850s, now established in estates and gardens across Britain.
The world's tallest tree species. Favours wetter western regions, where some now outpace native growth rates.
A living fossil, thought extinct until 1944. Deciduous and elegant — the rarest of the three in Britain.
Useful themes · supporting routes
The giant sequoia — the largest tree by volume on Earth — was introduced to Britain in the 1850s. These are standout places to encounter it across the UK.
Redwood places that are open to the public at no charge, with straightforward access and no ticket needed.
Dramatic avenues, towering groves, and atmospheric woodland — places that reward a camera and a slow walk.
Giant sequoias and coast redwoods were introduced to Britain in 1853 — just two years after the species were first formally described to Western science. The Victorian enthusiasm for the 'big trees' was extraordinary.
By the 1860s, hundreds of estates, botanic gardens, parks, and cemeteries had planted redwoods. Many of those trees are still standing today, now over 160 years old and approaching sizes that would have surprised their planters.
Britain's mild, wet climate suits redwoods surprisingly well. In some parts of Scotland and Wales, coast redwoods are now growing faster than many native species. Giant sequoias, usually associated with the dry Sierra Nevada, have adapted to Britain's seasons and continue to grow steadily.
Open the history guide →Species · identification · history
Giant sequoia, coast redwood, and dawn redwood — how to tell them apart and why it matters.
How Victorian enthusiasm for the 'big trees' spread redwoods across estates, parks, and gardens.
Identification, visiting responsibly, measuring trees, and more.