Gillingham - Woodlands Cemetery (Kent)

Thanks to John for sending these photographs of a Giant and a Coast Redwood in Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham. John says that both trees looked healthy, with the Giant redwood around 70 foot high and the Coast Redwood about 35 foot high. What an interesting and novel shot of the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) foliage and cones in the rain.

Mike wrote in June 2019 to tell us of the origins of the Coast Redwood growing here. "Early in the 1980’s I took a sprig cutting from a redwood tree in what was then the Cranbrook Hotel near Cranbrook in Kent, I grew it on in my garden until it was 6ft high in 1987. I saw that it would be a enormous tree eventually and I wanted to put a greenhouse in its place. In the great storm that year I noticed a tree in the cemetery was damaged and offered my redwood to them to be planted at the end of the row where my Great Grandfather James Nancollas was buried as his memorial stone had been removed. This was agreed and the tree was relocated in the cemetery in 1988. I have watched the tree grow over the years and feel good that I’ve left a memorial of sorts for the future in that tree. I have continued to take cuttings from the Cemetery tree and distribute them. One in the grounds of Benenden Hospital in Kent, another went to Southern Ireland, another is pot bound in a small garden in Bexleyheath. And there are other random plantings over the years." What a fantastic story and a great homage to your Great Grandfather. It's good to hear how the Coast Redwood came to be growing here, and also to hear from the person who planted it! I've have found this method of propagating works well for Coast Redwood and Dawn Redwood. Mike's story can also be found in the Tall Tales pages of the website. Keep up the good work Mike!