Biddulph - Biddulph Grange Garden (Staffordshire)
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Biddulph - Biddulph Grange Garden (Staffordshire) |
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 Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) Avenue in the snow Photograph © Copyright National Trust/Biddulph Grange Garden |
 Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) Avenue in the Summer Photograph © Copyright National Trust/Biddulph Grange Garden |
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| Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Photographs © Copyright National Trust/Biddulph Grange Garden |
| Thanks to Elaine for the above photographs of Redwoods in Biddulph Grange Garden. Elaine says that there are "a group of 7 Sequoiadendron giganteum in the Pinetum and a further 44 in part of the garden called Wellingtonia Avenue (Long Walk) where they alternate with Cedrus deodara either side of an avenue. There are also 3 Sequoia sempervirens, one of which consists of 3 trunks which have grown from the base of a large one which has been cut down." Elaine also sent a description of the garden: "The garden is one of Britain’s most exciting and unusual gardens with a series of connected ‘compartments’ designed by James Bateman to display specimens from his world-wide plant collection. There are many unusual features, many of which are unique, including rockwork, a formal Italian terrace, Egyptian Court , tranquil Chinese garden and geological gallery." The avenue of young Giant Redwood Sequoiadendron giganteum (alternated with Cedar Cedrus deodara) is the first to be noted in Staffordshire on the Redwood World site. A visit was arranged in May 2010 with Head Gardener Peter Clarke. He had organised a tour with Derek Wheelhouse and gardener Robert Hudson who started to work in the garden in 1978. Derek is a fount of knowledge about the history of Biddulph and kindly sent the very interesting photographs below showing the progression of the Wellingtonias in the avenue at Biddulph. It is quite astonishing how such a tiny seed, no larger than an oat flake, can grow to be an immense tree weighing hundreds of tons. |
 The seeds from 1993 "from Forrest-Start Shropshire Wild collected from Mountain Home Grove, 40-50miles east of Porterville California. Sown 8th June 1993." |
 The start of life |
 One year old in 1994 |
 "44 planted as 3'-4' rootballed, May 1996." |
 A Dawn Redwood to record on the next visit! |
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| The original avenue of alternating Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and Deodar Cedar trees
was created by James Bateman back in the 1800's. Derek says that "in Kemp's description of the gardens there is no mention of the Avenue in 1856, so its creation must have been sometime after that date." A book describing the gardens at Biddulph Grange was published in 1862 by E. Kemp (a landscape gardener). In the book are plans of the Wellingtonia Avenue which is described as containing "alternately Deodars and Wellingtonias, it being intended to remove the former when it shall become necessary." Unfortunately Robert Heath, who acquired the property from the Batemans in 1871, removed the Wellingtonia instead! The National Trust took over the garden in 1988 and the Deodar Cedar were felled in 1995. A new planting of alternate species was carried out according to the original plans of James Bateman. It's a shame that we do not now have the avenue of mature Redwoods that was to be, but nevetheless it will be marvellous to see the new plantings grow over the years, and future generations will no doubt enjoy them as a grand avenue as was originally intended by James Bateman. A great deal of work has been put into the restoration of the avenue (and the rest of the garden), this is a credit to the dedication of the gardeners and designers involved in the task. At the end of the avenue is a large vase (approximately 1.5m diameter), brought from Knypersley Hall by the Batemans in 1860. |
| Common Names and Latin Name | No. | Latitude and Longitude | OS National Grid | Elevation (above sea-level) |
Height | Girth | Date Measured | |
| WGS84 | OSGB36 | |||||||
| Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens | 1 | N53.12880 W2.16222 | N53.12849 W2.16079 | SJ 89243 59081 | 542ft (165.24m) | 21.9m | -- | May 2010 |
| 2 | N53.12846 W2.16241 | N53.12815 W2.16098 | SJ 89230 59043 | 548ft (167.07m) | 2.65m | -- | May 2010 | |
| Giant Redwood Sequoiadendron giganteum | 3 | N53.12853 W2.16109 | N53.12822 W2.15966 | SJ 89318 59051 | 568ft (173.17m) | 31.6m | 4.88m | May 2010 |
| Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens | 4 | N53.12918 W2.16095 | N53.12887 W2.15952 | SJ 89328 59123 | 567ft (172.87m) | 23.6m | -- | May 2010 |
| 5 | N53.12926 W2.16144 | N53.12895 W2.16001 | SJ 89295 59132 | 523ft (159.45m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| Giant Redwood Sequoiadendron giganteum | 6 | N53.12914 W2.15855 | N53.12883 W2.15712 | SJ 89488 59118 | 604ft (184.15m) | 7.8m | -- | May 2010 |
| 7 | N53.12907 W2.15859 | N53.12876 W2.15716 | SJ 89486 59110 | 604ft (184.15m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| 8 | N53.12851 W2.15526 | N53.12820 W2.15382 | SJ 89708 59048 | 641ft (195.43m) | 9.9m | -- | May 2010 | |
| 9 | N53.12846 W2.15533 | N53.12815 W2.15389 | SJ 89704 59042 | 630ft (192.07m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| 10 | N53.12849 W2.15562 | N53.12818 W2.15419 | SJ 89684 59046 | 646ft (196.95m) | 10.4m | -- | May 2010 | |
| 11 | N53.12862 W2.15576 | N53.12831 W2.15433 | SJ 89675 59060 | 649ft (197.87m) | 9.1m | -- | May 2010 | |
| 12 | N53.12864 W2.15623 | N53.12833 W2.1548 | SJ 89644 59062 | 663ft (202.13m) | 10.3m | -- | May 2010 | |
| 13 | N53.12876 W2.16042 | N53.12845 W2.15899 | SJ 89363 59076 | 567ft (172.87m) | 32.1m | 4.24m | May 2010 | |
| 14 | N53.12874 W2.16021 | N53.12843 W2.15878 | SJ 89377 59074 | 570ft (173.78m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| 15 | N53.12878 W2.16033 | N53.12847 W2.1589 | SJ 89369 59078 | 569ft (173.48m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| 16 | N53.12886 W2.16052 | N53.12855 W2.15909 | SJ 89356 59087 | 567ft (172.87m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| 17 | N53.12878 W2.16054 | N53.12847 W2.15911 | SJ 89355 59078 | 570ft (173.78m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| 18 | N53.12863 W2.16065 | N53.12832 W2.15922 | SJ 89348 59062 | 575ft (175.30m) | 5.6m | 0.48m | May 2010 | |
| 19 | N53.12863 W2.16031 | N53.12832 W2.15888 | SJ 89370 59062 | 580ft (176.83m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| 20 | N53.12846 W2.16081 | N53.12815 W2.15938 | SJ 89337 59043 | 592ft (180.49m) | 28.1m | 5.17m | May 2010 | |
| 21 | N53.12837 W2.16095 | N53.12806 W2.15952 | SJ 89328 59033 | 547ft (166.77m) | -- | -- | -- | |
| Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens | 22 | N53.12924 W2.16314 | N53.12893 W2.16171 | SJ 89181 59130 | 520ft (158.54m) | 22.3m | -- | May 2010 |
| Girth was measured at 1.5m from ground. | ||||||||