Grove of the Old Trees...

When one looks up "Things to do in Occidental", this 48-acre sanctuary, a true hidden gem, is on the top of the list.

Grove of the Old Trees is a healthy, old-growth stand of Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). It is the first, and now one of only two, privately owned preserves in Sonoma County that is publicly accessible and free to all.

The Grove is located on the original homeland of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok people. For years, it was owned by two families, the Colemans and the Van Alstynes. These families operated sawmills in the area, but reserved the redwoods here as a family gathering place.
Unfortunately, in the 1990s, the grand redwoods were slated to be cut down as part of a timber harvest plan (you can actually see blue stripes painted on certain trees that were in line to be removed). A group of county residents launched the long campaign to protect the remaining stands of redwoods. Thanks to the tireless work of neighbors and environmental activists, the blue stripes are a reminder of a fate averted.


I can't quote many movies, but I have always loved Robin Williams' line in Man of the Year (2006), "I'm not a tree hugger, I'm an air breather!" Okay, so in reality, I'm a tree hugger, too! I 💚 this grove!

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1 comments:

Four Points Bulletin said...

Thank goodness those trees were saved! They are majestic. Can’t wait to see them in person as we make our way up north this summer!

May 31, 2021 at 12:50 PM

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