Wakehurst is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the remarkable rediscovery of “dinosaur trees”.

Wollemi pines lived 200 million years ago and were rediscovered in a remote canyon in Australia after they became extinct between 70 to 90 million years ago.

After they were rediscovered, the pines were propagated and distributed worldwide.

The pines were thought to have become extinctThe pines were thought to have become extinct (Image: Oliver Dixon)

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Haywards Heath, is home to 15 of the first-ever Wollemi pines introduced to the UK.

Bosses at Wakehurst say the collection is thriving in the garden’s Coates Wood.

A newly planted Wollemi pine at Wakehurst in 2009A newly planted Wollemi pine at Wakehurst in 2009 (Image: Andrew McRobb © RBG Kew)

Expert staff continue to collect seeds from the pines and nurture them in the nursery and a new group of Wollemi pines are almost ready to be planted out, as part of a new genetically diverse global meta-collection, grown in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

Jo Wenham, curations manager at Wakehurst, said: “The meta-collection is a vital initiative, bringing together organisations worldwide to conserve this extraordinary species, and we're delighted to be playing a role in their future.

"The Wollemi pines at Wakehurst have been growing well in the Nursery, and we're excited to introduce them to the gardens, so that even more visitors can connect with this living piece of horticultural history."