Icarus - Sequoia dendron giganteum (Redwood)

[doc spring _work]

Funny you should say that.

I was simply amazed to hear people like me are planting these trees out.

A BBC news documentary surveyed the UK and found over 500,000 have been planted. It might be nearly extinct in the USA but not here.

Oh wow! I had no idea people where planting Sequoia in the UK I follow a lot of wildlife restoration and a lot of projects seem to be replanting old growth, I love Sequoia I just hope it doesn't become invasive

 

[Betula1]

Most of them were originally planted in Victorian times in Britain by wealthy landowners as landscape features.
They are a common sight around stately homes gardens and graveyards, but Ive never seen any sign of any self-seeded natural regeneration so I doubt they would ever become invasive- the pesky invasive North American Grey Squirrels probably eat most of their seeds!!

 

[doc spring _work]

Most of them were originally planted in Victorian times in Britain by wealthy landowners as landscape features.
They are a common sight around stately homes gardens and graveyards, but Ive never seen any sign of any self-seeded natural regeneration so I doubt they would ever become invasive- the pesky invasive North American Grey Squirrels probably eat most of their seeds!!

Not very familiar with Britains wildlife scene! I didn't know y'all had American squirrels over there.. suppose I'm over thinking it, still would be cool to see a forest of redwoods take if some kinda Chernobyl type disaster happened.. humans had to leave the area but everyones fine... Sorry kinda sleepy and ranting

 

[Betula1]

Not very familiar with Britains wildlife scene! I didn't know y'all had American squirrels over there.. suppose I'm over thinking it, still would be cool to see a forest of redwoods take if some kinda Chernobyl type disaster happened.. humans had to leave the area but everyones fine... Sorry kinda sleepy and ranting

Grey Squirrels were introduced here by Victorians because they look cute and have since become a really major forestry pest here, and have almost wiped out all our native Red Squirrel populations throughout the British Isles due to a plague- Parapox virus they carry, against which our native Reds have no natural defence. The only good news is our native Pine Martens are fighting back and now predating on the Grey Squirrels!

 

[doc spring _work]

Grey Squirrels were introduced here by Victorians because they look cute and have since become a really major forestry pest here, and have almost wiped out all our native Red Squirrel populations throughout the British Isles due to a plague- Parapox virus they carry, against which our native Reds have no natural defence. The only good news is our native Pine Martens are fighting back and now predating on the Grey Squirrels!

Hell yeah! At least they aren't going unchecked like the tumbleweed in the USA or pythons

 

[Betula1]

Gave something back to nature today.

Planted three, 2 year old giant Sequoia saplings in my local fields.

These could live for up to 3,000 years.

Wonder what the world will look like then.....

Hope you gave them some protection from deer and rabbits oh and humans !!

 

[Icarus]

I can not believe over a year has past. Here is an update on the first time I chopped the top off my largest tree and the regrowth. I topped a second time photo attached lets hope it recovers as well this time.

 

[Icarus]

Below are three photographs showing the growth of the base of the trunk. One year, two years and three years old. The 2 pence coin is 2cm wide for scale. The growing season is just about to begin here in the UK so it will be interesting to see how thick the trunk gets this year.

 

[Icarus]

Planting out had mixed results. First photo shows first planting after just over a year. The sapling is still alive but has hardly grown above ground. The second planting (seond photo) died. Third photo is a replacement I planted out this week. The third planting I could not find as the whole area was covered in brambles.