The Big Tree Race is on!

Photo:

Jayson Lyon and Jayvin Jalette are seen with this Red Pine, located in the Mt. Blue State Park, registered as the largest in the state since 1983. (Times photo by Cherri Crockett) 

REGION -- Here we are in the dog days of August. Are you tired of summer and looking for something interesting to do with the kids because they’re getting bored? Help the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District look for some more of those big trees! They’ve received 16 nominations on 12 species of trees and they’re busy getting out there to measure them, but there are a lot more that nobody has nominated yet.

They’ve got a White Ash (it’s the state champ!), an American Sycamore (also a state champ and defending it’s title!), Butternut (it’s really in close competition for state champ), an American Basswood (a contender for state champ due to the death of the reining champion), Northern White Cedar, Shagbark Hickory, Striped Maple and Sugar Maple, Chestnut Oak and Northern Red Oak, Eastern White Pine, and a Tamarack. But they’re missing some very common native trees and they think you know where to find them!

So, come on, you’ve still got until September 15th to nominate a tree. They’ve got great t-shirts for the nominators of the winning trees. Buckfield leads the way with seven nominated trees, Waterford comes in second with three nominations (all state champs or contenders!), then Norway with two, and Byron, Paris, Oxford and West Paris each have one.

The state, in particular, is looking to replace the following “Big Trees” which have either died or been cut down: American Basswood, American Beech, American Elm, Eastern Hemlock, Eastern Hophornbeam and Northern Red Oak.

Some of the more well-known trees we’re still looking for? Green and Red Ash, Poplar, Birch (6 types), Elm, Balsam, Hornbeam, Maple (4 types), Oak (5 types), Pine (3 types), Spruce (3 types) and several smaller or lesser-known varieties. And with fall right around the corner, don’t forget to keep an eye out for any apple trees you think might possibly be our own Black Oxford.

For more information on how to enter and a list of the native trees we’re still looking for, go to www.oxfordswcd.net and follow the links or call our office at 743-5789, ext. 111, and they’ll email (or snail mail) the entry form and tree list to you.