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UK's first Wollemi pines on display
From
May 2005, the British public have had the chance to see a tree
thought to be extinct for 2 million years but recently discovered
alive and well and thriving in Australia. When the Wollemi Pine was
identified it caused enormous international surprise and excitement
and is a hugely significant scientific discovery. After trials at secret
locations in the UK the long-awaited appearance of the tree in this
country finally happened, and the Wollemi took its place
amongst the rarest trees in the world, conserved for all to see at Kew
Gardens and Wakehurst Place, where seeds are preserved in the Millennium
Seed Bank.
Sir David Attenborough planted the tree at Kew, while Kenneth Branagh planted a sister tree at Wakehurst Place.
The
tree at Kew is situated on the lawn in front of the Orangery, protected
by a metal cage. Fewer than 100 of these magnificent trees survive in
their secret location in New South Wales, Australia, and a propagation
programme ensures the survival of the species and lessens the threat to
trees in the wild. Later this year, Kew will sell the first available
trees to the public.
Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) was known from fossil records dating back 90 million years but was presumed extinct for around 2 million years. The discovery has been equated with finding a dinosaur alive today.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, have also trialled the tree and now have a Wollemi Pine on show.
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