Giant Redwood

Giant Sequoia

Wellingtonia, Californian redwood and giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are related to but a different tree to the true Coastal Redwood (Sequoia_sempervirens). Giant Sequoia can reach a ridiculous 100m where the latter grows even taller than that! Its pretty confusing and they are so similar that they used to be classified as the same by scientists.

Giant Sequoias are some of the oldest living beings on Earth and can live thousands of years. They are native to California but are present in reasonable number here in Britain mostly due to imports during colonial times. We have worked on a fair few and they are normally in private estate grounds and public parks.

The timber

Redwood timber is not very strong for construction purposes but very durable for outdoor use (heartwood only) and really beautiful and unusual to look at so great for craft and wood turning. It takes a finish and glues well and you get the fantastic contrast between the sapwood and heartwood. We were surprised how much the timber reacted to steel (a lot like Oak), which is due to the level of tannic acid present in the timber so we suggest using stainless fixings for redwood.

We tend to sell Redwood and other naturally durable timber green (nothing to do with the colour, green just means not dried) or air dried if it happens to sit in the stack for a while before sale. For machining its better to be at least surface dry. We also make craft blanks and slabs for makers to use in their crafts. Keep an eye on the shop page for Redwood products.

The Craigflower Redwood

The only one we have felled so far was a storm damaged tree at the Craigflower estate in Fife. It was a shame for such a specimen to need to go but it was badly damaged and was unsafe for the surrounding properties. To do it some justice we were determined to get it all out and use every part of the tree, mostly as timber so it could go on for another hundred years or so.