Mark McCaughreanMar 13, 2024

Who knew? 😳

While there are only 80,000 of those iconic giant redwoods left in their native California (I blame all those rubbish speedbike riders in Return of the Jedi), there are 500,000 now growing in the UK.

Smaller so far, given that they’re much younger, but apparently the warm wet weather conditions suit them well & the largest are already over 50 metres tall.

Story & pix by my lovely friends Becky Morelle, Ali Francis, & Tony Jolliffe at the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68518623

Giant redwoods: World’s largest trees 'thriving in UK'

A survey of giant redwoods growing in the UK reveals the trees are doing well - and growing fast.

Show threadPauline von Hellermann
@markmccaughrean I listened to that this morning - so interesting to hear! One of those 500,000 #giantredwoods is at New Cross Gate station in London, olanrd by a rail worker a few years ago. Hope it will continue to thrive!
Mar 13, 2024 at 11:33amWeb
Show threadJonathan HendryMar 13, 2024

@pvonhellermannn @markmccaughrean

It better thrive or it's going to make a mess of that station when it falls, never mind any rains passing at the time.