For the project Grand Mare in Rouen, France, contracting company SA STEEV from Saint Pierre Les Albeufs (commune de Rouen) already visited Nursery Udenhout a year before the start of this project. The company tagged together with the responsible architect the most beautiful Metasequoia glyptostroboides from a lot with well over 40 Dawn redwoods. The tagged tree came from Nursery Udenhout and measured a stem circumference of 80-100 cm.

Pedestrians
Why needed the tree be chosen one year in advance? In this way Nursery Udenhout had sufficient time to ensure a clear stem height of 5 meter. The tree was going to be placed in a shopping mall in the city Rouen, where most pedestrian passageways are situated at a height of 5 meter. When passing by the tree, the shopping audience has a spectacular view on the beautiful crown. The total height of this tree covers around 18 metres.

Character
On sight the tree with a total weight of 8500 kg and a rootball circumference of 2,40 meter was lifted with a heavy crane over the shopping malls roof. Approximately 28 metres further, the tree was unloaded at its final destination and was there provided with a solid rootball anchorage and an automatic irrigation system. For this spectacular happening even recordings were made by the French local broadcasting stations.

Besides the beautiful big Metasequoia glyptostroboides 90-100, the architect also chose to implement 40 pieces Betula pendula ‘Zwitsers Glorie’ in the project. The remarkable white stem and clean upright pyramidal growth were the main characteristics that appealed to the architect. He also decided to plant Prunus avium ‘Plena’; a variety which blossoms abundantly in the spring and its vigorousness and rapid establishment gave the project the right look and feel.