Rutherglen - Buchanan Lodge (Lanarkshire)

Giant Redwoods - April 2007

Thanks to Tam for sending the above photograph of Giant Redwoods at Buchanan Lodge. Tam wrote telling us; "Have just this week discovered why I have always liked a particular tree near where I grew up in my hometown. It is in an area that when I was younger was an old folks home and now is a homeless unit, that aside I have identified it as a Sequoiadendron giganteum. This site was the location of Castlemilk House, a stately old mansion built around Cassilton Tower, which was started in 1460 on the site of a 13th century castle. However it was pulled down by Glasgow Corporation in 1969 like so many other buildings in Glasgow at this time. The main gateway to the house can still be seen at the junction of Mill Street and Croftfoot Road. There is quite an expanse of woods here. This tree must have been damaged early on because it has a second trunk splitting off about 8-10 ft from the ground which also stretches way up... I wonder what size it would have been without the deformity? There is another on the right slightly smaller, and another behind out of view."

It is possible that the split trunk may not have been due to damage, it may have simply formed a second leader at some stage in its development, particularly as the split occurs at such a low level. Below is an example of a Redwood I have planted myself and it is interesting to speculate as to whether it will grow in a similar fashion to the one above.