The McGilvra Grove of coast redwoods is nearly 100 feet tall and over 100 years old. It was intentionally planted by the previous owners of this property, who understood the benefits these giant trees could have and wanted to give something back for future generations. 

Bald eagles roost in the grove’s canopy and underground streams flow below the grove to nourish the trees. This grove is located on an Environmentally Critical Area, which means it helps protect from landslides and filters polluted runoff that flows into Lake Washington.

This grove reflects the Olmsted design — even though these trees weren’t planted by the Olmsteds themselves, they were intentionally planted as tall tree clusters paired with open spaces.  

The City of Seattle has approved a developer’s request to remove large trees within this grove including a healthy coast redwood nearly five feet in diameter to build a retaining wall. No clear justification has been given for why the wall must cut through the grove when the slope appears stable.

Removing trees from a grove doesn’t just mean losing individual trees. It destabilizes the interconnected root and soil system, putting the entire grove at risk over time.

Join us next Sunday to help save these trees.

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Please ask the owner and the city to save this grove. Use the template below, and please customize using your own voice. Click here to send or copy & paste below.

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To: davidshearer@gmail.com

CC: mayor.wilson@seattle.gov; joy.hollingsworth@seattle.gov; council@seattle.gov

Subject: Please Save the McGilvra Redwoods
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Dear Mr. Shearer,

I’m writing to ask you to reconsider removing large trees from the McGilvra redwood grove — the largest redwood grove on private property in Seattle — to construct a retaining wall. No clear justification has been given for why the wall must cut through the grove.

These trees anchor an Environmentally Critical Area, cool Seattle’s growing urban heat, provide wildlife habitat, absorb stormwater, and protect the community. Seattle’s tree rules may allow this, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. Saving this grove would show real care for the community and the environment. Please move the retaining wall and build around the grove — not through it.
Sincerely,

<Your Name>