The Giant Redwood: A Living Legacy at Cloudforest One, Lahinch

At Cloudforest One in Lahinch, we are planting for the future. Among the diverse mix of trees taking root across the site, one species stands out for its sheer presence, history, and symbolism: the Giant Redwood.

Also known as Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant redwood is one of the most extraordinary trees on Earth. Native to California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, these trees are the largest living organisms by volume and among the oldest, with some living for over 3,000 years. To stand beside a mature redwood is to stand next to living history.

Giant Redwood Pictured on Cloudforest One February 2026

Why Giant Redwoods?

Redwoods are more than just impressive—they are resilient, climate-positive, and deeply aligned with the ethos of Cloudforest One.

These trees are exceptional carbon sinks, absorbing and storing vast amounts of CO₂ over their lifetimes. Their thick, fibrous bark makes them naturally resistant to fire, disease, and pests, while their longevity means they continue to benefit the ecosystem for centuries.

In the right conditions, giant redwoods thrive in Ireland. Our mild temperatures, high rainfall, and Atlantic air mirror many of the environmental factors of their native range. Once established, they grow steadily and require minimal intervention, making them ideal for long-term rewilding and afforestation projects.

A Tree with Ancient European Roots

While giant redwoods are most commonly associated with California today, their story begins much closer to home. Before the last Ice Age, redwood species were widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere, including large parts of Europe.

Fossil evidence of ancient redwood relatives has been found in countries such as Ireland, the UK, France, and Germany, dating back millions of years. These forests thrived during warmer, wetter periods, forming part of vast temperate ecosystems long before human history began.

The advancing ice sheets of the Ice Age eventually pushed these trees south or wiped them out entirely in Europe, leaving small surviving populations only on the western edge of North America. In this sense, planting giant redwoods today is not introducing something foreign—it is, in part, a restoration of what once belonged here.

At Cloudforest One, the redwoods at our Lahinch site reconnect the land with its deep ecological past, while helping to build a more resilient future.

Redwoods at Cloudforest One, Lahinch

The giant redwoods planted at our Lahinch site are still young, but their potential is immense. Over time, they will become towering landmarks—quietly shaping the landscape, stabilising soil, supporting biodiversity, and capturing carbon year after year.

Planting redwoods is an act of long-term thinking. These are not trees for quick results; they are trees for future generations. Long after we are gone, they will still be standing—silent witnesses to a time when people chose to restore, rather than extract from, the natural world.

A Symbol of What We’re Building

At Cloudforest One, our mission is to create resilient, living ecosystems that combine environmental responsibility with lasting impact. The giant redwood perfectly embodies that vision: strength, patience, and scale.

Every redwood planted is a commitment—to climate action, to biodiversity, and to thinking in centuries rather than years. As they grow, so too does the forest’s ability to protect, regenerate, and inspire.

If you visit Cloudforest One in Lahinch today, you may see young trees reaching skyward. But look closer, and you’ll see the future taking root.