Bollington - The Rookery (Cheshire)

Giant Redwood - November 2022

Thanks to Will who sent this photograph of a Giant Sequoia in his garden. He wrote; "Believed to have been supplied from seed by Veitch Nurseries in the 1850s, I have thus far been unable to estimate its height, but it is a stunning specimen located within the heart of a woodland setting, more unusual than the solitary positions they are often planted in, so it towers far above the surrounding trees when viewed from afar, and provides the most immersive perspective of the tree when you come across the trunk whilst walking through the woodland. The wider woodland contains other historical specimens, but is relatively small in area and provides the back drop to the original Italianate garden of The Rookery (an early 19th century mill owner's manor house in Cheshire). The house, gardens and woodland all appear on mapping from the 1870s, so it is likely all were completed at similar times as the layout of the trees seems purposeful and well thought-out. It is not known whether Veitch Nurseries had anything to do with the design of the gardens (maybe unlikely as they were based in Chelsea and Exeter), but who ever it was clearly had talent, and the client a passion for gardening, as there were formal gardens and extensive brick built, boiler fired greenhouses elsewhere within the grounds. We will soon hopefully be undertaking new planting schemes across the surrounding land where we hope to introduced, dawn, costal and more giants." It's good to have your specimen included on the website and I'm very pleased to hear of your introduction of more Redwoods to the surrounding land. We very much look forward to an update in the future.