Giant sequoias thriving in UK, rivaling America's

STORY: Giant sequoias, the largest trees on Earth, are thriving in Britain, according to a new study.

Researchers from Britain's Royal Society found that the forest giants are growing at a rate nearly equivalent to those found in their native range in the U.S. state of California.

Sequoias, also known as giant redwoods, were introduced to British country estates as a status symbol in the 19th century.

Now there are now an estimated half a million in the country, compared with 80,000 in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, where the threat from wildfires and droughts is greater.

Giant sequoias grow fast, provide shade and benefits such as absorbing carbon, and can live for more than 3,000 years.

However researchers say their impact on native biodiversity in the UK is not yet fully understood.