This stunning tree is a champion tree. It is the best specimen of its type within N Ireland, and this is determined by measuring its height, its canopy spread, its girth, and its overall look
Champion Tree – This tree is massive! It has the largest recorded girth of this species in the whole of Northern Ireland and that’s why it is a Champion tree. The bark on this tree has evolved to help protect the cambium from forest fires and rock falls in its native Sierra Nevadas – trees are clever!
Currently the largest redwood in the world lives in Sequoia National Park, California. It stands at an incredible 84 metres tall and 11.1 metres trunk circumference.
Common name: Giant Redwood
Eventual Height: 100 metres
Life span: 3000 years
Native: Non-native
Adaptability: This is a fire resistant tree, in-fact it needs fire to reproduce in the natural world. The fire opens up its cones full of seeds and also clears the forest floor giving it a great seed bed with more light for germination.
Uses: Now mainly an ornamental tree, it was used extensively in the past for building in the California area where it originated from. It has a massive impact on Tourism in California with many people flocking to see the Giant Redwood groves. It was introduced to the UK by William Lobb in 1853 and once he got his seed germinated the Wealthy Victorians went mad for them.