Overview

• The Wollemi pine, a species dating back over 90 million years, was thought extinct until its rediscovery in 1994 in New South Wales, Australia.
• Pamela and Alistair Thompson planted a sapling in their Worcestershire garden in 2010; it now stands over 13 feet tall and has borne cones for the first time this month.
• The tree produces both male and female cones, and the couple hopes to collect and germinate seeds later this year to aid in propagation efforts.
• The Thompsons purchased the sapling for £70, a significant contrast to the current market value of over £1,000 for small trees of this species.
• Their garden will open to the public on May 4 as part of the National Garden Scheme, showcasing this rare botanical achievement.