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.
Visit information
- Access
- Open to public
- Access note
- Free access on foot. Car parks nearby charge a fee.
- Opening times
- Accessible year-round. Best visited early morning or on weekdays to avoid crowds.
- Official site
- forestryengland.uk/rhinefield-ornamental-drive
Redwood species here
Planted 1859, now reaching over 40m. Among the tallest in England.
Approximately 50–60 trees lining the drive
Notable trees
The Tallest Coast Redwoods in England
tree NotableThe coast redwoods along Rhinefield Drive include some of the tallest in England, exceeding 40m. These trees are growing in conditions surprisingly similar to their native California fog belt — high humidity, mild temperatures, and good rainfall.
- Height
- 42m
- Planted
- 1859
About this place
Rhinefield Ornamental Drive
Rhinefield Drive was planted in 1859 as an ornamental approach to Rhinefield House. The coast redwoods — native to the fog belt of coastal California and Oregon — were chosen for their extraordinary growth rate and the dramatic scale they would eventually achieve.
The trees
The avenue now comprises around 50–60 coast redwoods on either side of the road, with several other conifer species interspersed. The redwoods have grown to over 40 metres, placing them among the tallest coast redwoods in England. Their distinctive reddish, spongy bark and the way they block the sky create an experience quite unlike any other in the New Forest.
Why coast redwoods here?
The New Forest's high rainfall, mild winters, and acidic soils provide conditions well-matched to the coast redwood's native habitat. Coast redwoods in California grow in a narrow fog belt where they receive moisture both from rain and from coastal fog. The Hampshire climate is cooler and less foggy, but the trees have adapted remarkably well.
Getting there
Rhinefield Drive is accessible from the B3055 near Brockenhurst. There is car parking at both the north and south ends of the drive. The walk along the avenue takes around 20–30 minutes one way.
Research notes
Research notes: Planting date 1859 is cited in Forestry England materials and corroborated by tree ring surveys. The trees were planted as part of the wider Victorian fashion for ornamental drives on great estates. Rhinefield House (now a hotel) lies at the south end of the drive.
Sources
- Rhinefield Ornamental Drive — Forestry Englandofficialforestryengland.uk