Buckfastleigh - Buckfast Abbey (Devon)

Although built to an old style, Buckfast Abbey is actually a 20th Century construction. The clean, unworn faces of the stone blocks give this fact away. Centrally placed in the courtyard, however, is a Giant Redwood that must have been planted back in Victorian times. Although still a nice specimen, its foliage does look a little on the sparse side and I suspect this may be due to the extent of pathway and compacted lawn surrounding it. Other than this it seems in good health. At the back of the Abbey, in the private quarters, stands a young Dawn Redwood. This is ideally placed, being just a few feet from the river. There is also a set of beehives that have been producing honey for many years, some eleven tons or so in 2007! If you visit Buckfast Abbey be sure to leave your sandwiches at home and sample the delights of their excellent restaurant (The Grange).

Common Names and Latin Name	Latitude and Longitude		OS National Grid	Elevation (above sea-level)	Height	Girth	Date Measured
	WGS84	OSGB36
Giant Redwood, Wellingtonia Sequoiadendron giganteum	N50.49320 W3.77686	N50.49262 W3.77570	SX 74062 67441	115ft (35.06m)	29.5m	5.72m	May 2008
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostrobodies	N50.49375 W3.77511	N50.49317 W3.77395	SX 74187 67499	131ft (39.94m)	18m	3.2m	May 2008
Girth was measured at 1.5m from ground.