Discover the 10 Tallest Trees In England

In a world of globalization and conquests, there are natural resources or fruits or flowers that were not part of a certain region but instead brought over by humans to another part of the world. That’s why you can grow avocados in Europe or potatoes in Mexico. You can plant flowers native to China in North America or trees native to California in England.

Let’s explore the 10 tallest trees in England. Some are native to England and others were brought over from other places in the world. These trees make up the forests and parks of England. 

1. Common Douglas Fir

The tallest Douglas fir was found in Rothbury, Northumberland, which is in northwest England. The Douglas fir is native to North America, but botanist David Douglas brought it over to the United Kingdom in 1827. It now thrives in many forests throughout the country, but mainly in the western regions. These evergreen conifers can live for a thousand years and their leaves are needle-like. The bark of Douglas is non-flammable, which is perfect when it comes to forest fires as they will be protected.

2. Giant Sequoia

The tallest giant sequoia in England was found in Longleat Forest in Wiltshire. William Lobb is the man responsible for bringing back the seeds from the Sierra Nevada in California. He had visited in 1852, stunned at the giant tree, and wanted to bring it to his homeland. Although this massive tree can grow stunningly high, the record has been in California at 311 feet tall. Like the Douglas fir, their bark is also not flammable. Unfortunately, less than 80,000 of these trees remain on Earth, marking it as an endangered species.

3. Grand Fir

The tallest grand fir in England was found in the Skelghyll Woods in Cumbria. The grand fir is a conifer that likes to grow in hilly and wet conditions. Another tree originally from the western states of North America, David Douglas also brought the grand fir to England, but this time in 1830. The evergreen conifer has needle-like leaves and small cones. It’s also a tree that isn’t used as lumber because it decays faster than other trees. This majestic-looking tree is also a popular tree used during Christmastime. 

4. Coast Redwood

The coast redwood is a very similar tree to the giant sequoia, being part of the same subfamily. The redwood is native to the Sierra Nevada forest in California. The tallest coast redwood in England was found in Buckler’s Wood in Wiltshire. The redwood has the distinction of having a red-brown colored bark and its green leaves are also needle-like. The coast redwood can grow to a whopping 379 feet tall but only in its natural habitat and not in England. 

5. Western Hemlock

The tallest western hemlock in England was found in Rothbury, Northumberland in the same place as the Douglas fir. Native to North America, botanist John Jeffrey brought the tree to England in 1852. The evergreen conifer is a tree that can grow in the shade quite rapidly, but unfortunately, not much wildlife can grow beneath it. In England, these trees are mainly grown for timber, roofing purposes, and boxes, but they are also used as decorative trees in parks.

6. Sitka Spruce

The tallest Sitka spruce found in England was at the Low Dalby Meadow in Dalby Forest, which is located in North Yorkshire. The Sitka spruce is an evergreen conifer that claims the record as the largest species of spruce. Native to southeast Alaska, this tree grows well in England because it grows well in moist conditions. The Sitka spruce is mainly used as timber for the country. Its leaves are needle-like and its bark is thin and can flake off, revealing a gray-colored bark.

7. Noble Fir

The tallest noble fir in England was found in Rothbury, Northumberland in the same place as the Douglas fir and western hemlock. The noble fir is native to the Pacific Coast in the northwestern United States. Its bark is gray, but the evergreen conifer’s leaves are needle-like. Scottish botanist David Douglas discovered the noble fir while in the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest. The tree is mainly used as a Christmas tree or to make Christmas wreaths in England.

8. European Silver Fir

The first tree on this list that is not native to North America, the tallest European silver fir in England was found in Fishpool Valley in Croft Castle, located in Herefordshire. The silver fir is native to central Europe and is an evergreen conifer. Its leaves are needle-like and its cones, unlike Douglas firs and spruces, stand up. The tree was brought over in 1603 to England and is mainly used in construction, timber, and furniture.

9. London Plane

The tallest London plane in England was found at Bryanston School in Dorset, which is located in southwest England. This tree is the product of hybridization between the oriental plane and an American sycamore. There are two debates on originality, one saying the hybridization took place in Spain and the other saying it took place in Vauxhall Gardens in London. Visually, it shares a lot of similarities with the American sycamore although the London plane is a more urban tree and the sycamore’s natural habitat is in lowlands or along streams. 

10. Norway Spruce

The tallest Norway spruce in England was found in the New Forest in Hampshire, which is located in southeast England. The Norway spruce is native to Norway and the rest of Scandinavia but was brought to England in the early 1800s. Another evergreen conifer, the Norway spruce has needle-like leaves and cones that hang down. The tree is used in a variety of ways in England, from Christmas trees to timber.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are the 10 tallest trees in England. They are found all over the country. It makes England more biodiverse, as animals can make these trees part of their home or feed from the tree’s nutrients. The next time you go hiking in the forests of England, like the Dering Woods in Ashford, look out for some of these beautiful, tall trees. But they say the Dering Woods are haunted (the woods are also known as the Screaming Woods), so make sure you don’t run into a gnarly ghost.

Discover the 10 Tallest Trees In England