America’s Giant Redwoods are Thriving in Britain - here’s why 

A forest of redwoods in the uk? Got to be better than the endless lines of non native commercial pines in Scotland…

I'm a microbiologist in California who specializes on coastal redwoods, and I have been a huge fan of your channel since it started! If you'd like a tour of what the species is capable of, feel free to reach out to me as a resource/guide! My partner is an archeologist, and we are incredibly well versed in their local history, so maybe we could be helpful for your research. :)

As an American, I'm relieved to learn this. I'd no idea that they existed outside the US. It's good to know they have a second home.

Californian here. Never thought I'd hear a brit talking about Redwoods in Britain. Glad to see our lovely trees getting recognition and regular foggy mist!

Had no idea Britain had redwoods. That's absolutely great to hear.

I think you are mixing up two different species of Redwoods. The Sequoia of the Sierra Nevada propagates by seeds while the Coastal Redwoods propagate by root stock similar to Aspen. The coastal trees are valuable as timber while the sequoias are not. The Sierra trees are used to hot summers and cold winters and grow slowly. The coastal trees milk the the fog from the ocean, so the ground underneath is always damp plus they don't get extreme temperatures. I could go on but I think you get the picture.

I'm almost sixty. When I was a kid, everybody in America had redwood outdoor furniture sitting on their redwood decks because they were so rot and pest resistant. Not anymore!

Bay Area native here.. LOVE these behemoths! Just went to Muir Woods a couple months ago and there’s NOTHING like it ❤️ Glad to see they’re making their way to our UK brothers and sisters

As a long- time supporter of Redwoods and the Save-the-Redwoods League, I'm very happy to learn about the Redwoods in Great Britain. I live in Minnesota, but we are growing Redwoods in the nearby state of Michigan. Wherever they can be grown, we should plant them.

I was born not too far from a redwood grove in California and have seriously considered moving to the UK. The idea of a forest of redwoods in a chosen home following me from where I was born is magical.

Regarding the 80,000 redwoods in California - these are specifically for the giant Sequoias in the Sierra Nevada. The more common redwood is the coastal Redwood, which are the tallest trees in the world. These grow in people's backyards and parks all across Northern California and their numbers are well in the millions. But the difference is that they can only get super tall along the coast of California.

Redwoods also had a global distribution millions of years ago. These aren't Britain's first redwoods, just the first ones in recorded history.

I'd love to see our native temperate rainforest re-established, but there is surely enough land for a redwood forest or two as well. Maybe one day we could be sending seedlings and young trees to California to help restore the forests there.

There's a huge Redwood at Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire. It is beautiful.

I live in a Redwood forest in the northern, very foggy Santa Cruz Mtns in California. I have 4 acres of redwoods here that are approaching and/or exceeding 200feet tall, but they are only 100+ years old. This whole area of Kings Mtn was clear-cut up til 1925. These coastal redwoods need fog to feed the tops of the trees. As I am at1300 ft and 4 miles from the ocean, there are many foggy nights and some days. The problem in California has been the 5 year drought that just passed. Many fallen redwood branches are covered with lichen because the trees are weaker now. (Both of my cars have been smashed by these falling rockets called "widow makers").. I still love it here after 21 yrs.

In the 1980's I was behind a cabin in Ben Lomond, California sitting in a lawn chair surrounded by redwoods whose trunks were between three and four feet thick. Suddenly my perception changed. I realized I was sitting on what would have been the stump of a felled tree perhaps some twenty five feet across and that what I had thought of as trees were suckers from the stump of the original tree felled perhaps 90 years earlier.

I think a Redwood forest in Britain would be fantastic!! 🌲🌲🌲I live in California and have been to the Redwoods - I think everyone should be able to visit them at least once in their lifetime! 💪🏻👍🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🤗

Did you know that there’s 3 types of redwood too- Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) the tallest tree in the world, Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) the oldest tree in the world and the Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) which was previously thought to be extinct until 1941 when it was found in China and is also the only deciduous redwood

The format of this video is top tier. The lack of unnecessary musical overlays and thematic editing is very refreshing to see on RU-vid today. The strength of your narration and the sounds of natural backdrops make for easy viewing and truly engaging content. Well done, and keep up the good work. Happy to subscribe for more of this right here.

One maybe small correction or note, if you will: the Redwood is not the tallest tree in the world of all time, but is the current tallest living tree in the world. The Coast Douglas Fir that lives in the Pacific Northwest is in fact (or was), the tallest living tree in the world, prior to logging. The tallest Douglas firs reached heights of over 400 feet, many of which that were recorded and measured at over 450 ft tall! The current tallest Coastal Redwood in the world is or was some 100 feet or so shorter than the tallest ever recorded Douglas fir! But the vast majority of the oldest, biggest, and tallest Douglas firs were cut down long ago around the same time that the Coastal Redwoods were cut. So currently yes, the Coast Redwood is the tallest living tree species in the world. We have a lot more old growth Doug fir left than Coast Redwood, but the issue lies in that the largest and tallest of them grew in lowland river valleys in or around the Willamette Valley and Pudget Sound, which were the first to be hit by early logging and settlement. Cities like Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver were largely built over old growth forests. The remaining old growth Douglas firs we have left do not even come close to the sizes and heights the oldest ones once were. The Redwoods to an extent had some advantage over the Douglas firs, in that they were initially harder to access growing in mountainous areas. Lots of old growth Douglas firs also remain in more mountainous areas, but the largest of them grew in the absolute easiest places to harvest early on, and they were so much more widespread than the Redwoods too, that we never got a "Save the Douglas firs" movement early on like the Redwoods did-it was assumed that ours would never run out. Doug fir is by far the dominant tree in the PNW and old growth Douglas firs stretched from the coast to the mountains and all across the inland valleys between the coast, coastal ranges, and Cascades. I like the idea of preserving Redwoods in other places. I think that is a great idea. I would also suggest similar for other massive west coast species like the Douglas fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Redcedar, Western Larch, etc, but I don't think any of those can compare in dire need as the Redwoods. The Redwoods have a much smaller native range and generally far more threatened, compared to the wider ranges of the Douglas fir, Sitka Spruce, Western Larch, etc.

There's a forest of them in New Zealand too, at a place unimaginatively called The Redwoods near Rotorua. They were planted in the 1920's as part of an experiment to see what exotic wood tree could best replace the timber needs that were at the time being met by felling native forests. Redwoods, some Australian Eucalyptus species, Douglas Fir, and Monterey Pine, maybe others were selected for the trials. In the end it was found that Monterey Pine was best suited for the needs, growing ridiculously quickly, today in plantations with 70 years of growing experience it's being found that they're getting 40-50 metres in height in just 30 years. The redwoods were left where they were, and today the stand of them is a popular tourist destination in an already popular tourist town.

Red woods get most their water from the air. They soak it up from the top branches. So if you want them to grow as much as they can, plant them somewhere that gets a lot of moisture in the air.

There is a Sequoiadendron giganteum in my local Arboretum and I happened to visit that tree just yesterday. It is truly a fascinating specimen which has been doing surprisingly well in the wet and sunless Dutch climate. Now some 120 years old it towers all the other trees in the park. Now for some local lore - The very day that specific giant redwood was planted a boy was born right next door. And for the next 106 years they would be celebrating their birthdays together.

I had the joy of visiting the Muir Redwoods, near San Francisco. Spent hours just walking around the Park, gazing in awe at these magnificent Trees.

I was weeding near our local 159 year old redwood with a 6.5m girth today. It was being awesome as usual! At Dunollie House in Oban, right next door to our local temperate rainforest, Dunollie Woods.

The largest living tree by volume is Sequoiadendron Giganteum, the Giant Sequoia, the species shown in this video. Sequoia semprevirens, the California Coast Redwood, is the tallest of all trees. Both are called redwoods, but are not the same tree. A lot of the info in this video is a mix of facts about both trees interchangeably even though they are no more similar to one another than pines are to spruces. Still awesome to see them covered here!

I was talking to a local groundskeeper for a suburban wooded pathway who was clearing some downed trees. I forget the species but he mentioned that it was an invasive and then pointed out the incredible number of dead/dying trees in the immediate area. He mentioned they were all the same invasive species, and it wasn't that they were dying prematurely, but that WHEN they die, they stay standing FOREVER because none of the local insects or other decay-advancing critters feed on them. So you get entire chunks of woodland with dead tree after dead tree that won't fall and give up it's spot, creates a hazard anytime there's wind, is a huge potential fire risk and looks awful. I'd never really thought of TREES as invasive before. It's always fish or birds or toads or cats or such. But don't sleep on the idea that invasive trees can be a problem too.

I always smile when people moan about the UK's rain yet expect trees to thrive on sunshine only and no moisture. To get the green you need the grey. ❤

Cali boy here. I love our Redwoods, and hope that in a few generations kids will still get to see these amazing trees in their natural habitat.

In my hometown in Norway in the last few years, I've planted a lot of acorns from the oldest oak here. In various forests where there's been logging. And fewer horse chestnut trees(even if they're not native, they may be low thread). Some have grown, and it's really interesting to keep an eye on them, and see them get bigger each year, even if small yet.

I live in Oakland, CA. I hike daily in large redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) forests walking distance from my house. I've been doing this for over 30 years & am still blown away by these trees everytime. Hiking in a redwood forest sends one into a mental captivation, a reverie. I joke that they keep me out of prison! I had no idea, until your video, that there are so many (6x over CA) redwoods in the UK (I'm guessing this # refers to Giant Sequoias rather than Coastal Redwoods). Yes, I'm biased, but you can't plant too many redwoods. There are no downsides & everyone benefits.

We've got some huge costal Redwoods in Grootvaderbosch nature reserve in the Western Cape South Africa.!! They will survive long past my lifetime ❤️

I have actually thought of buying some land in Ioannina, Greece and planting a Redwood Forest. Ioannina receives a staggering 1000 to 1200mm of rain and then goes through the same kind of hot summer the redwoods would experience in their native range. I was thinking to do it next to the university campus ^_^

I've planted 10 of these along with 40 endangered black poplar trees. All phantom planted in the community. I've definitely offset my carbon footprint 😂 I wish I had the land to plant forests. I've added a few redwoods to my local woodland but we need a redwood forest. The world is forever changing and so should we.💚

The three i planted near 30 years ago are doing well in SW Scotland , i even got a cutting off one . They wont grow super tall as the wind knocks the top 6 feet off every couple of years but their super stout and thick base . Birds love it as a look out and the nesting boxes on them are used . The leaf drops are slowly creating their own eco system beneath them much loved by birds like blackbirds and robins roughing through it for insects . I think nuthatches and coal tits hide seeds and nuts in the bark .

The story of trees moving from the West to Europe is interesting. I knew they had giant redwoods there but i had no idea as to how many!

If you go visit redwoods come to Santa Cruz my home town. Henry Cowell has some absolutely massive specimens and in some parts of the forest you can find very rare albino redwoods.

I was fortunate to have been able to travel to California about 20 years ago. I absolutely fell in love with Muir woods, which has coastal redwoods, rather than giant sequoias. To this day it is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. I would love to see a woodland with both of those redwoods thriving here in the UK, especially if I am still around in the next 2,000 years. In small enough pockets I really can't see how they would be a detriment to our ecosystem. Congratulations on hitting 50k, Rob.

Redwoods like damp ground and moist weather to some extent. Otherwise they perish. They tend to flourish in long lasting groves where they can find that.

I'm from the UK but I lived in Humboldt, CA for a year when I was at university - best decision of my life. Living amongst the Redwoods was an experience I will never forget. Bigger than you can fathom until you're face to face with the cushioned orangey bark. I'd recommend everyone to see them once in their life, incredible feats of life on earth. If you'd like any pointers for your trip out there hit me up, I haven't been back for a few years now but spent ~2y exploring the emerald triangle and all that is within.

Redwoods were native to Greenland at one time. Coastal climate change there is enabling the conditions for starting new forests. I think we should start there, if anything.

I found this video extremely comforting. Now I know there is a backup reservoir of trees that exist independent of (American) man's folly insuring the survival of the species.

Thank you for holding a reserve of redwoods in the UK.. I would encourage you to keep a standing reverve for the next 3 centuries if possible. Now if you could convert those non-native pine plantations you have into native pine forests that would also be good.

A redwood forest in Britain sounds amazing. And leads to another idea (that won't happen): a redwood forest in Iceland. Don't even know if they'd grow there. But had a few been planted there back when they were all the rage in Britain? could have been pretty cool.

As an American I was delighted to see this! I've never been to the UK, but I imagine everything would grow wonderfully there. Thanks for this video!

Hit the highway 20 west from US101 through a town called Willits, The Gateway to the Redwoods. This road is Loved by car enthusiasts for its scenic beauty and tight turns. The drive ends at the beach and there is a train ride through the switchbacks of the Redwood Mountians. The Skunk Train. It's a much more real experience than you get down south. It is the gateway to where the woods really begin.

Sequoias don't struggle in California when they're in gardens or various other plantings.It's no surprise that they'd thrive in Britain, since that was part of their native range before the Pleistocene.

in suffolk theres a redwood that was planted by a bloke who used the nearby flint mines to sell gunflints to the crown for the napoleonic war

There's already a grove of Coast Redwoods in the UK called the Charles Ackers Redwood Grove, which is managed by the RFS. The Giants Grove Redwood Forest, consisting of Giant Sequoia, is currently in development at Birr Castle in Ireland.

5:15 The Sierra redwoods you are walking past all live in the mountains in California above 5000 feet...they actually don't like hot dry weather too much. An equable, wet, cool climate like in the UK suits them just fine. They can also tolerate freezing conditions as it does get subfreezing every winter in the mountains of California, even if it doesn't necessarily stay ultra cold for long.

Really angers me how this channel doesn’t have more subscribers, after the first video I watched I really did leave curious 😂

My concern with introducing non-native species is over how well we can predict the impact they'd have, especially long term. I'm thinking of the owls in Futurama and how the best intentioned plans can have long lasting negative impacts. Personally, I'd rather bolster our native woodlands (including using native trees to restore woodland to an area that has been lacking it for a while) than to sow a new, non-native one.

I'd love to see more giant redwoods in Britain. I was blown away by the redwood avenue in Havering when I walked the London LOOP - you're so lucky to live nearby!

American Californian here. Saving the redwoods and sequoias has been hard going in recent years, especially in light of devastating wildfires. I'm so glad to know they've found roots in a new home that may be better suited for them.

Love this video! General Sherman is one of the largest but, depending on how you define largest, there are bigger. The tallest tree is called Hyperion - another redwood in California. Its specific location is kept secret.

Been to see the Redwoods, both Sequoia and Coastal several times in California, they are mesmerising to walk amongst, so yes would be fabulous to have a Redwood forest in Britain, but it'll take hundreds if not thousands of years before they grow as tall and as massive as those in California.

General Sherman is a "sequoia" redwood aka mountain redwood. They are different then the costal redwoods. Related but not the same exact tree. The costal redwoods get taller and the mountain sequoia variety are denser trees. Both amazing

Redwood planting is a statement of hope and trust in the future, and of course humility.

Agreed! Rewilding a mono-culture, clear-cut forest glen into a few new pocket habitats.

I live in caithness i planted part of local golf course in thurso, grand fir, noble fir, larch, oak, hazel, rowans etc and a sequoia! (1980s)it is about 30ft tall now. (15 miles from john o groats. I am self employed gardener on a motorbike. Tree and nature lover grow my own trees, cuttings too. Sitka spruce has adapted well in scotland and if open grown live a long time (1,000 yrs in native canada) birds use them for seeds, shelter and foraging. I am planting trees in grounds of hotel where i work part time. Was spruce, larch in bits. Underplanting with oak, hazel birch, rowan etc. Doing it over last 8yrs or so.

Imagine how in Tune with nature the Indigenous people's of California and the America's were to keep the Forest alive (hence Amazonian tribes to date!) And thriving. To then see the almost Complete extinction by the "Discoverers ".. This hits deep when you have REAL AMERICAN ancestors in your bloodline! Non the less i DO Thank you for this and you have my respect for bringing this to my knowledge 🙏🏽. Let's keep these beauties ALIVE

It makes total sense to me for these special trees to be a forest in the UK where it is so moist much of the year. In the Black forest around Kandern Germany there are also many redwoods, sequoias… Sutter was from that area and he and others brought back many seedlings. I spoke with a couple of foresters recently while I was there and asked about them. Two had been cut down in Kandern, apparently they had been sick. Near the Getränkmarkt/Liquor store, there is a wonderful Sequoia in front of a house, taking up the entire garden space. Others are here and there, one in Malsburg Marzell, another near the Sausenbirg… and a grove in the vicinity that I have yet to visit, but will for sure, now that I know about it! I would love to see them thrive all over the world. Some animal species have been able to repopulate themselves in their native wild lands after being totally lost from those lands. That is one good thing about zoos and these groves of the big trees of California.

I can see the pros of having a small pocket of Redwood as a species backup, but do redwoods really fit into the local ecosystem well enough to justify a redwood forest? Doug Tallamy's research indicates non-natives support significantly fewer insects (due to the majority of insect species being specialists of native plants). Insects are the primary method of transfering plant biomass to higher trophic levels, and it seems redwood trees thrive because they're not integrated into local food webs. disease, insect, or otherwise. I am a huge fan of this channel and would be very curious what your thoughts are in this respect.

There are two Redwoods in Builth Wells in Powys, Wales. They are lovely. A redwood forest may be interesting as they are thriving but could we concentrate on getting back our much needed raparian woodland in Scotland and Wales to save the Salmon and river dependant ecosystems. Plus we need our hedgrows re layed and woodland corridors regenerated.

Fist time visitor to your channel. I was fortunate to live and work one spring, summer, and fall in Sequoia National Park. A few years later I spent a year living on the northern California coast, in close proximity to the Coast Redwoods. I would be delighted to be your guide when you make it over too see these magnificent trees for yourself! So happy to learn you have Giant Sequoias growing in Great Britain!

I think rewilding and habitat restoration should take into account the subfossil and fossil record of extant species and close relatives when determining what is native. Sequoias (Sequoiadendron) make a great candidate for this in the UK. Happy to talk more about this offline

The redwoods are definitely magnificent trees. I am also in California as one subscriber mentioned. I would highly recommend a visit to Roaring camp. It is in the Santa Cruz mountains here in northern California. The train rides are a wonderful way to experience the redwoods as the train passes thru the old groves. There is one that takes you to the beach boardwalk. You get an hour or so to enjoy till the train takes you back. I have fond memories of my visits there. Really enjoying your channel. Thank you for al you are doing for our beautiful planet. Blessings to you & all. Liliane

Here in British Columbia, we have forests of giant and ancient western red cedars (a close relative of the redwood), and other spectacular trees and plants. But less than 1% of these forests still stand. And despite 90% of the province wanting to save these forests, and numerous blockades including the largest act of disobedience in Canadian history. The provincial government is still allowing the destruction of these forests from logging companies, and is also lying about how much is left and being cut down! It is such a shame that this is still happening , as the protesting has been going on for over 50 years. You should come see these forests for yourself, as this would help spread public awareness for we can finally protect these forests!

Over the last 30 yrs I have planted 18 Giant Redwood, 15 Coastal ( Californian ) Redwood and 7 dawn Redwoods where I live in South East Wiltshire, UK. They are growing happily in our heavy clay ground. The first batch now have a 5ft diameter at their bases and are approaching 50ft tall. A forest of them would be fantastic.

As a west coast Canadian carpenter, I feel a strong bond to the trees around me. I saw that in England as welll when I first started visiting my in-laws. My jaw dropped when I would drive around the corner in a small town and see a…western Red Cedar. The. Reading up more about the red woods and their history as well, I realized that Britain has the perfect climate for our west coast North American trees. Our cedars here are dying off in vast amounts. But I think they could still thrive and live in Britain (especially west coast Scotland). I think places like this are actually essential for the species to survive as our climate has changed and these cedars are choking to death. Almost literally. The tops of them start dying off and in a few years, that starts working its way down the tree and then it dies completely. Spreading the seeds to other parts of the world, is necessary. I think we humans have changed the world enough, that we can add to it as well. Thanks for your content. Please come to British Columbia Canada. If you go to Whistler. Be sure to check out the “Ancient Cedar Grove”. It’s epic and close by!

Its been my lifelong dream to go and visit the Redwoods in California! I was meant to go last year for my 40th but didn't have the funds! I'm hoping to go later this year but will probably end up being next year as things are just so damn expensive now. There are some in North West London that I visit sometimes. I have a video of them on my RU-vid channel. I love all trees but being in the presence of such giants is magical

Grew up in California close-ish to the redwoods and the forests are like nothing else. :) So happy to hear they are doing well elsewhere in the world. The really big coastal redwoods traditionally got a lot of their moisture from marine fog, which unfortunately there has been less and less of in recent years in CA.

We have planted a Giant Redwood in our poplar plantation in Norfolk, UK. It has struggled to get established with the recent drought years and our low rainfall but is about 8ft tall now and think it is going to really take off soon.

Fun fact: mature coastal redwoods are too tall to pull water from their roots to their canopy. They need the fog to survive. That means that we've had fog on the northwest coast of America often enough for long enough for trees with thousand-year lifespans to evolve to depend on it.

I live within driving distance of redwoods. Even the "not very big" ones are huge. In one area where they grow, if you just basically stand there looking at a tree and examining the plants that grow under it etc, eventually, a deer will come by and just ignore you as it passes. So long as you look busy with something else and never look directly at them they think you are just another one of those dumb things with only two legs.

Absolutely love your videos and as a native Californian it’s amazing to see our beautiful redwoods thriving elsewhere. Not all nonnative species are invasive. Another example that would be cool for you to showcase in a future video, while your in California would be the thriving parrot communities in Southern California!

I’m amazed and delighted to hear of redwoods thriving in the UK. And some so old!

What Britain is doing with Redwoods is admirable! A small victory on Earth with humanity wiping out almost everything that can be exploited in some fashion.

There are some down in Spain too, it's odd how we planted them for wood for such a long term that it is no longer worth it and it's turned into a small redwood forest, the more humid climate if northern Spain might help, however I truly believe more that the fire, the drought and all that and it's logging, which is to say deliberate destruction which can be easily avoidable what will destroy our most massive humbling forests

The biggest sequoia I've seen is probably either the ones growing in Hothfield common or the one growing in howletts zoo! The specimens in Hothfield common are within a new growth forest!

I never knew Britain hosted so many of this wonderful tree. May their sheltering canopies extend ever further.

Giant sequoias and redwoods grow in mild climates and also in foggy areas. They get their water from fog and late winter rains

My friend was just telling me today that we have more in the uk than the US, probably about 5 hours ago thinking about it. Fancy you uploading this while my curiosity is peaked

big redwood forest in the highlands wood be cool

Hi, I’m an American and I think it’s marvelous that Britain is growing these amazing trees. A Redwood forest would be an amazing thing to see over there. Even a splendid idea for tourism.

So quick bit of info. Coastal redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, and the largest by volume. Giant sequoia, like general sherman, are the largest by diameter. Coastal redwood grow in coastal fogbelt areas. Sequoia grow in dry highland climates. Also, the conditions that redwoods thrive in are similar to great britain. Most days of the year in a redwood grove have fog. Also, while they don't get much rainfall, 40% of their water comes directly from the fog. Temperatures float between 50 and 65 degrees F about 80% of the time. Redwoods also have elevated epiphyte mats to help take in the fog that allows them to grow tall. So even in a wet environment they won't grow to their full potential without the amount of fog you see in places like Northern California or the Po valley. They'd probably do better in the Po valley than in great britain. Its the closest climate to their native range. Lastly, redwoods grow in "families" and have interconnected root systems. Planted them in rows like a cypress doesn't help them grow to their full potential either.

"invasive species with no natural competition on new continent does surprisingly well"

We have many on campus where I work. I agree on the carbon capture point. Also they are home to many micro habitats for invertebrates. I have seen tree creepers in our trees. I don't think they should supersede the priority of native species. But they do have their place from a conservation point of view. Unlike rhododendron or laurel which are endemic frankly Others are right. This channel is under subscribed and under appreciated. I'm grateful for your efforts. Thank you.

I for one as an American from the midwest who yearns for the day I can go see the redwoods in person, I am thankful for them "saving" whats left of the ones on the west coast and until just now, i never knew that there was such a large amount in england and am pleased to see them flourishing and I hope that you continue to cherish and protect the ones you have.

Didn't you do this last week? Got a Cali Coast Redwood in the front garden, it's thriving and making a mess of the pipework. Think the Cali Coast version is actually taller than the giant although nowhere as massive.

Due to the upper canopy ecosystem I think redwoods would be a great choice for the UK. Sure it takes ages to get to that point but the amount of habitat you get for the footprint is amazing. Imagine how amazing a Caledonian redwood forest would look, it could even help save all the briophytes and what not by providing more space at different conditions to allow for more species to grow.

These trees will add to the existing beauty of your country. I have resided in California USA for around 30 years. I am not a botany expert so please take my comments with a grain of salt. A sequoia is a close cousin to the California coast redwood. Both are magnificent. The sequoia is larger on volume than the coast redwood, whereas the coast redwood is taller than the sequoia. If redwood were planted in Britain, here are some things to consider. The California coast redwood (not sure about the sequoia) has big commercial value if the forest is managed properly. The coast redwood does not have roots that are very strong and if Britain is subject to wind, these trees will blow over and shatter which ruins the lumber value. So, for the coast redwood trees, plant them close together. Doing this will help do two things. The weak roots are compensated for by having the trees close together. Planting them close will also encourage vertical growth with very few knot forming side branches for the first 120 feet or so. Clear knot free lumber is highly sought after. Some other points, California coast redwood trees are a little odd in that much of the water they use is absorbed through the"leaves". So if there are areas in Britain with coastal fog and rain with temps that don't fall much below freezing, great. Also if there are mountain ranges stepping down to the ocean, plant the forests in the sides and ravines , avoid the ridge tops. So far, my favorite area for viewing the California coast redwood is around the little town of Weott CA. Leave the 101 and take the old 101. Cheers.

Come to Cali - the redwoods are AMAZING to see and a powerful part of the Universe 🌲 💫

I recognised Havering Country Park from the opening shot, I also love the view from the eastern end, down into the city. I made a pilgrimage to the redwoods there a couple of years ago and was blown away by their size.

I love the idea of a Redwood forest in Britain. Exactly because they are suffering so much in the US. It only makes sense to me. But truly I don't know the extent to which it may impact your native species there. I just don't ever want to lose these majestic trees! Why are the trees in Britain healthier? Tha'ts an important question!

Well done. I traveled from Australia to California and saw the Redwoods. Unforgettable. The world's second tallest tree is Centurion - a Mountain Ash located in Tasmania.

We are planting Giant Redwood groves in the UK to safeguard the species - love your video, great job. We think there are far fewer than 500,000 in the UK, and this number includes coastal redwoods being grown for timber harvesting - such a shame as we need to be trying to grow them to old growth trees, in a1000 years :) - we should get in touch!

This video is misleading, due to the fact that it's based on a news article that was incorrect (which has since been corrected, though as we can see, the damage has been done). The UK has 500,000 redwoods of all types (Giant Sequoia, Coast Redwood, and the Dawn Redwood, which is from China, not California), whereas the 80,000 number for California is just for Giant Sequoias, which are by far the most endangered of native redwoods in CA. CA has about 1.6 million acres of redwood forest (the vast majority being Coast Redwoods), and that amount of land can hold far more than 500,000 redwood trees.

should concentrate on helping native species thrive

The amazing thing about a redwood forest (e.g. Muir Forest near San Francisco) is that walking in amongst those trees you feel like a child again. An awe inspiring feeling.