Axminster - West Street (Devon)

Thanks to Martin for sending details of this Giant Redwood in Axminster (the tree on the left in the photograph). He said; "We have been going to Axminster from near Exeter nearly every week for over 10 years and I spotted what I imagine was a Giant Redwood every time. I like trees, especially giant ones like Redwoods. We were lucky enough to visit the Sequoia National Park nearly 20 years ago (north of the Golden Gate Bridge). Anyway I have a particular interest in the american photographer Ansel Adams. His book "Trees" included many Redwoods, that re-awakened my interest in the Axminster tree. So what do you think? Is it a Giant Redwood? It isn't hidden away, being almost opposite to Axminster Town Hall (the car park for the Co-op supermarket). The trunk looks right but the tree's crown is rounded as you can see, more like a Coastal Redwood." Although the top is rounded it is definitely a Giant (Sequoiadendron giganteum) as opposed to a Coastal Redwood. They are quite conical and pointed at the top while in the early decades of growth but usually take up a more rounded form when they get to this age. An exception to this is the two trees in the New Forest that are incredibly tall (for Redwoods in the U.K.) but have retained their more pointed top.