Thornham - Thornham Walks (Suffolk)

Coast Redwood - Tree no. 4

The main aim of visiting Thornham Walks was to reach the Giant Redwoods in the distance, it was only later that we discovered these stand in the grounds of Thornham Hall. There may well be more Redwoods than the four listed here, possibly in the pinetum. Unfortunately there were no maps available on the information stand and there appeared to be no mention of the pinetum on the map displayed on the board. Eager to find the other distant Redwoods we curtailed the walk and headed for Thornham Hall. Thornham Walks require a re-visit to explore further some other time.

Coast Redwood - Tree no. 1

Giant Redwood - Tree no. 2

Dawn Redwood - Tree no. 3

St. Mary's church at Thornham Parva - North side - the moss about to be removed

In the nearby village of Thornham Parva, St. Mary's church was having a facelift in September 2017. It is a Grade I, 14th century church with a thatched tower and knave; one of a very few churches that is totally roofed in thatch. The thatcher told us that a full re-thatching was last done in the 1970s. He was renewing the ridge which is made from straw, something that needs to be done every twenty years. The main roof thatch is composed of reeds which last much longer, sixty or so years, and at this time it just needed the moss scrapped off.

St. Mary's church at Thornham Parva - South side - with the moss removed

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	N52.30499 E1.07917	N52.30453 W1.08092	TM 10023 71893	156ft (47.56m)	12.5m	0.95m	September 2017
Giant Redwood Sequoiadendron giganteum	2	N52.30499 E1.08047	N52.30453 W1.08222	TM 10112 71896	169ft (51.52m)	12.4m	--	September 2017
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostrobodies	3	N52.30493 E1.08052	N52.30447 W1.08227	TM 10115 71890	168ft (51.22m)	8.7m	0.6m	September 2017
Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens	4	N52.30533 E1.08146	N52.30487 W1.08321	TM 10177 71937	168ft (51.22m)	33.1m	--	September 2017
Girth was measured at 1.5 metres from ground