Giant sequoias are a rapidly growing feature of the UK landscape

Tree age, growth, and awe

• UK giant sequoias are ~160 years old and far smaller than US giants, but commenters note they can grow for millennia and current trees are “babies.”
• People compare their ages to human history (Romans, Jesus, pyramids) to highlight how short human lifespans are vs. ancient trees.
• Several express emotional or quasi-spiritual reactions to seeing sequoias/redwoods in person.

Carbon capture and climate change

• A cited figure: an individual Sequoiadendron can absorb ~85 kg of carbon per year.
• Back-of-envelope comparisons: ~65 such trees to offset one UK resident’s annual emissions, or roughly comparable to the carbon from an intercontinental flight (with debate over exact numbers).
• Strong skepticism that “just plant trees” can solve climate change; the scale of required land and trees is seen as enormous compared to simply reducing fossil fuel use.
• Some argue trees only temporarily store carbon; when they die and decompose, carbon returns to the atmosphere unless the wood is sequestered (e.g., buried or turned into long-lived materials).
• Others counter that long-lived trees like sequoias buy valuable time and that partial mitigation is still worthwhile.

Reproduction, invasiveness, and management in the UK

• UK giant sequoias are reported as almost entirely human-planted; they’re not naturally reproducing.
• Several posts say they need fire, full sun, and specific soil conditions to regenerate in the wild; Britain is too humid and lacks the right fire regime.
• Some note that seedlings can be raised in nurseries and planted out, but spontaneous “takeover” of native forests is viewed as unlikely.
• UK forests are described as heavily curated, so any encroachment would be noticeable and manageable.

Non-native species and biodiversity

• Introduction of non-native trees (e.g., Douglas fir, sequoias) is noted as controversial because they alter biodiversity and soil conditions.
• Some studies (linked in-thread) suggest certain non-native conifers may improve soil relative to existing plantation species, complicating the debate.

Timber value and economic ideas

• Coast redwood is praised as excellent construction timber; giant sequoia wood is repeatedly described as brittle and poor-quality for building.
• Historical logging of US giants is characterized as tragic and often wasteful (e.g., large trees reduced to shingles).
• Ideas of sequoia “farms” for future timber or carbon credits are floated but undercut by growth timescales and wood quality.

Planting, reforestation, and activism

• Multiple links and comments mention UK and Scottish reforestation efforts, including targeted projects and expansion goals.
• Some advocate mass manual planting (even “guerilla gardening”) as feasible and necessary; others stress the practical limits of land, labor, and cost.
• There is tension between “every bit helps” planting arguments and “focus on decarbonization first” arguments.

Redwood taxonomy, geography, and lookalikes

• Thread repeatedly clarifies the distinction between giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), and dawn redwood (Metasequoia).
• Different regions use “redwood” differently, causing confusion in media coverage.
• Practical tips are shared for telling species apart by needles and cone size, and examples of planted groves across Europe and North America are discussed.

Why West Coast trees get so tall (discussion only)

• Explanations offered include: mild climate, fog supplying extra water, fire regimes selecting for tall canopies, and relatively late intensive settlement leaving more big trees intact.
• Some local observations note fog-dependent water uptake and drought-related dieback in coast redwoods, with concern about future climate impacts.