Giant sequoias, the world’s largest trees, are thriving in the United Kingdom, with growth nearly equal to that of trees in California, according to researchers.
To begin, the country estate of the British 19th century aristocracy currently contains roughly half a million sequoias (also known as gigantic redwoods). This figure much exceeds the 80,000 sequoias found in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.
Although California’s gigantic sequoias face the problems of more frequent and severe wildfires and climate-induced droughts, a report from the Royal Society, the UK academy of sciences, states that sequoias in the UK are generally doing well.
Dr. Mathias Disney, a co-author from University College London, believes that these trees will thrive in the UK’s more temperate and wetter climate in the long run.
The enormous trees were transported to Britain in the 1800s and lived for almost 3,000 years. Initially, they were planted on stately home grounds to demonstrate the Victorians’ riches and rarity.
