Colchester - Lexden Park (Essex)

Coast Redwood

Dawn Redwood

Thanks to Tony for the tip about the Coast Redwood in Lexden Park. I took an opportunity to visit this small, pleasant park and found the Coast Redwood near the car park. It has a small off-shoot branch growing from its base, something that is not an uncommon occurance with these trees. There is also a Dawn Redwood enjoying its water-side position and although it is a little crowded by other trees it seems to be growing well. It would be interesting to find out whether both Redwoods were planted at the same time, which would mean that the Dawn has beaten a fast-growing Coast in its vertical rate of growth! * * * Update - October 2011 * * * It seems after all that the Dawn Redwood really is romping ahead of the Coast Redwood. Not quite what was expected, but the Dawn Redwood is right on the edge of the pond so is getting plenty of water right through the hot summer season.

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	N51.88922 E0.86429	N51.88873 E0.86600	TL 97201 25061	97ft (29.57m)	16.7m 15.3m	1.83m & 0.58m 1.62m & 0.52m	October 2011 July 2009
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides	2	N51.88908 E0.86484	N51.88859 E0.86655	TL 97240 25047	68ft (20.73m)	18.6m 16.5m	1.37m 1.23m	October 2011 July 2009
Girth was measured at 1.5 metres from ground