Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest

Bedgebury National Pinetum is unique and important on a global scale for species conservation, scientific advancement and the understanding of conifers. The mix of conifers and broadleaved specimens contained in 350 acres of rolling Wealden countryside is awe-inspiring in its size and grandeur. Amongst these trees you will find the planet's largest living organism - the giant redwood or Wellingtonia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), and the tallest - the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). Bedgebury holds 6 National Plant Collections - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana cultivars (cvs.); Cryptomeria japonica cvs.; × Cuprocyparis leylandii cvs.; Juniperus species (spp.); Taxus spp. & cvs. and Thuja cvs. Keeping these collections ensures that they are available for gardeners, nurserymen, researchers, and anyone interested in trees to benefit from as a resource alongside the expertise of the Bedgebury team in managing their care.

The scale and quality of Bedgebury Pinetum's conifer collection make it an ideal 'safe site' for the International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP) run by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. A safe site for this programme is a botanic garden that grows plants collected in the wild, as seed or cuttings and where there is regular monitoring and biological data recorded. The ICCP aims to promote the conservation of conifers through in-situ conservation work, ex-situ conservation work, research and education. Bedgebury Pinetum plays a vital role in conserving the genetic diversity of conifers, particularly those from temperate rainforests.