Bury St Edmunds - Abbey Gardens (Suffolk)

Tree No. 1 - Coast Redwood 2026

Tree No. 1 - Coast Redwood 2026

Tree No. 2 - Dawn Redwood 2026

The Coast and Dawn Redwood trees were found to be growing well on a visit in 2026. The Coast Redwood must have suffered some damage to its top a while back, and now has four or five leaders instead of the usual single stem. This is a shame but perhaps in time one leader may dominate and give the tree its traditional form. The Dawn Redwood was in its early stages of Autumn colour change, as is the Swamp Cypress that was also found in the gardens. The close up of the foliage of each of these two specimens shows the subtle difference between these otherwise fairly similar looking trees.

Tree No. 2 - Dawn Redwood and a close up of its leaves 2026

2026 - Abbey Gate / A piper outside the gardens / A Swamp Cypress in the gardens / close up of its leaves

On 31st October 2026, outside the Abbey Gardens, a piper was playing while dressed in his splendid Scottish outfit.

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Tree No. 1 - Coast Redwood 2016

Tree No. 2 - Dawn Redwood 2016

These young Coast and Dawn Redwood are set among the grounds of Abbey gardens where stunning flower beds may also be found at the right time of year.

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Tree No. 1 - Coast Redwood 2007

Tree No. 2 - Dawn Redwood 2007

In 2007 the Coast Redwood (in the left hand picture) had a plaque (no longer there in 2016) which read; Sequoia Sempervirens Coast Redwood Planted by Cllr John Long Former Mayor of St Edmunsbury Borough Council 1987 - 1988

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	N52.24526 E0.71891	N52.24480 W0.72062	TL 85716 64267	54ft (16.46m)	17.2m --	2.67m 1.78m	May 2016 May 2007
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostrobodies	2	N52.24475 E0.72006	N52.24429 W0.72177	TL 85797 64213	96ft (29.27m)	16.5m --	1.44m 0.91m	May 2016 May 2007
Girth was measured at 1.5 metres from ground