Elmstead Market - Beth Chatto Gardens (Essex)

An early Spring photograph showing one of the Dawn Redwoods (on the right) and a Swamp Cyprus (centre)

Beth Chatto Gardens celebrates it's 50th year on 2010 and so the Dawn Redwoods (one of them shown on the right in the above photograph) must have been planted very early in the garden's history. The original site was an overgrown wasteland with poor soil and it has been transformed into a lovely garden containing very many interesting and unusual plants. Many thanks to Chris for a very informative walk around the gardens. Beth Chatto Gardens offer a range of courses and guided tours throughout the year.

Swamp Cyprus Taxodium distichum - click on the photo to see full size image	Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Two Dawn Redwoods are growing near the water, along with around half a dozen Swamp Cyprus. Notice the "knees" or woody projections rising 10-15 centimetres above the soil surface. This is a distinctive feature of the Swamp Cyprus. One reason for their existence was thought to be to provide oxygen to the roots when the tree is growing in swampy water or water-logged areas. Another suggestion has been that they provide additional strength and stability in flood-prone areas.

Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides	Paperbark Maple Acer griseum	Eucalyptus

A return visit to Beth Chatto is definitely on my list of places to visit this year, to see the garden in the Summer and the Dawn Redwoods with their foliage.

Common Names and Latin Name	No.	Latitude and Longitude		OS National Grid	Elevation (above sea-level)	Height	Girth	Date Measured
		WGS84	OSGB36
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostrobodies	1	N51.87428 E1.00304	N51.87378 W1.00476	TM 06816 23784	58ft (17.68m)	22.3m	3.06m	Apr 2010
	2	N51.87386 E1.00304	N51.87336 W1.00476	TM 06818 23738	90ft (27.44m)	18.75m	2.9m	Apr 2010
Girth was measured at 1.5 metres from ground