Grove of giant redwoods planted in smallest county

Saplings of giant redwoods - the world's largest trees - have been planted in England's smallest county.

Earlier this year campaigners saved seven giant redwoods planted in the 1800s from the axe under expansion plans for nearby Grange Top Quarry in Ketton, Rutland.

Now quarry owner Heidelberg Materials has joined forces with the nature-loving locals to plant 12 new redwood trees to replace a second grove of sequoias which will still have to make way should the quarry expansion be granted approval.

Dr Jay Naylor, who has documented the project on his YouTube channel Jay Naylor Films, said it was "somewhat of a fantasy" to be planting the saplings.

He said: "We had some success after some public campaigning and some discussions with Heidelberg Materials. One of the groves is going to be saved, but there was another grove which is still planned to be felled if the quarry expansion goes ahead.

"There are constraints on the land they've got and it's just not really feasible for them to still be able to expand the quarry and to also retain that grove, so I felt that it was pertinent that somebody should really try and get a replacement."

After discussions, Heidelberg agreed to allow planting on a patch of land, which will be opened up to public access as part of expansion plans.

Planting has now taken place, with 12 new giant redwood trees alongside two coast redwood and two dawn redwood saplings - making the new site the largest grove in Ketton.

The trees now face their toughest test, surviving through their first summer, before hopefully thriving in the East Midlands.

Dr Naylor said: "These trees naturally only grow in a very isolated range in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.

"There's only 75 groves of them in existence in that range, so they're quite picky - but the climate in the UK is really favourable and actually there's more giant redwoods in the UK now than in California.

"The trees are going to need some quite close monitoring and watering, no small feat for 16 trees not exactly near to a main road, but if we can get them through this summer, they should be able to look after themselves.

"Hopefully they'll be there in a thousand years."

The trees, which will be lost, were planted by Victorian landowner Thomas Burroughes in the late 1800s, likely sourced from Kew Gardens in London, and the new site has been dedicated in his honour.

Mark Page, land and mineral resources manager at Heidelberg Materials UK, said workers at the firm were thrilled to muck in and help plant the new grove.

He said: "In the coming years, the woodland will become accessible to the public with a path alongside Empingham Road, which forms part of our proposals to extend Grange Top Quarry and will allow visitors to enjoy the groves."

A planning application and environmental impact assessment was submitted to Rutland County Council in January 2024 for an expansion of operations at the limestone and clay quarry alongside a 30-year extension, to feed the Ketton Cement Works.

An updated application is expected to be filed with planners "in early 2026", said Mr Page.

Dr Naylor said: "People get quite disillusioned with the planning process and I was a little bit doubtful that the initial campaign would find any success, let alone convince them to provide land to plant a new grove - it's somewhat of a fantasy.

"It was quite surreal to see the dynamic shift from feeling like I was up against these guys to now working alongside them."

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