Just a short walk from Framlingham’s bustling Market Hill, tucked among the historic graves of St Michael’s Church, stands one of the town’s most impressive — yet easily overlooked — natural landmarks: a towering Giant Redwood, or Wellingtonia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

An American Import with Victorian Roots

Local legend has long held that this tree “came from America,” and remarkably, that story checks out. Giant Redwoods are native to the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, thousands of miles from the Suffolk countryside. They were first introduced to Britain in the 1850s, prized by the Victorians as dramatic ornamental specimens. Wealthy landowners and church communities across the country planted them in prominent spots — churchyards, estate grounds, and grand avenues — to showcase these exotic new arrivals. Framlingham’s tree is a wonderful surviving example of that Victorian fascination with the natural wonders of the New World.

A Tree That Just Keeps Growing

What makes this particular Wellingtonia so special is how well-documented its growth has been. Tree recorders have tracked its dimensions over nearly two decades, and the figures tell a story of remarkable vigour:

• 2004: girth of 4.7 metres
• 2008: girth of 4.95 metres — a growth of about 7 inches in just four years
• 2012: height of 26.9 metres, girth of 5.18 metres
• 2014: height of 28.5 metres
• 2020: height of 34.15 metres (over 112 feet) with a girth of 5.53 metres

To put that in perspective, by 2020 the tree had grown taller than a ten-storey building, and its trunk had swelled to more than five and a half metres around. Its open position in the churchyard — unshaded and uncrowded by other trees — has allowed it to flourish, and it’s regarded as one of the finest examples of the species anywhere in England.

Why It’s Worth a Visit

For visitors exploring Framlingham’s rich history, St Michael’s Church is already a must-see, with its Grade I listed medieval architecture dating back to the 12th century. But take a moment while you’re there to step into the churchyard and look up. This Californian giant has been quietly growing among the gravestones for well over a century, a living link between Suffolk’s Victorian past and the ancient forests of the American West.

A Tale of Two Trees

Interestingly, the Wellingtonia isn’t the only tree with a story to tell in Framlingham. Over at Framlingham Castle, a large copper beech recently made headlines after being found to have a fatal fungal infection, prompting English Heritage to fell it for safety reasons. It’s a poignant contrast — one historic tree facing the end of its life, while the American giant in St Michael’s churchyard continues to reach ever higher.

Next time you’re in town, pay St Michael’s resident giant a visit — and don’t forget to look up.