The NH Big Tree Program
Sponsors
Purpose
- To locate the most outstanding examples of the various tree species which grow in New Hampshire
- To obtain the cooperation of the tree owners to protect and preserve specimens as landmarks for future generations to enjoy
- To stimulate interest in and greater appreciation for trees as a natural resource
- Anyone can nominate a tree to be a Big Tree Champion.
- A registry of all recognized New Hampshire Big Trees as well as a list of all County Big Trees is maintained by the NH Community Tree Steward Program.
- All recognized New Hampshire Big Trees will be considered for submission for the National Champion Big Tree Registry sponsored by American Forests.
New Hampshire has a long and interesting history of association with trees. Since the days when "mast pines" were harvested for the British Navy, trees have played an integral role in our state's character and economy. The days when the vast expanse of original forest covered most of the state have gone. Today, relatively few large, venerable trees remain to remind us of those earlier times.
In an effort to find, record, and recognize these magnificent individual trees, the New Hampshire Big Tree Program was started in 1950. The list of recorded champions now includes more than 200 giants of their kind. Community Tree Steward volunteers help identify, measure, and record these big trees at the state, county and national levels. The NH Big Tree program cooperates with the National Register of Big Trees through American Forests. For more information on the National Register of Big Trees.
Listings of NH's Big Trees
The New Hampshire Community Tree Steward Volunteer Program has published a list of the biggest trees of each species throughout the state. The State and County Listing of Big Trees contains the following information about the largest specimen of each species measured in New Hampshire: height, tree circumference, average crown diameter, the year the tree was measured, the location by city and county (because most of these trees are on private property exact locations aren't listed), and its status (national, state, or county champion).
The Introduced Big Trees is a list of non-native trees not yet recognized by the National program.
To Nominate A Big Tree as a Champion
Do you have a really big tree in your neighborhood, or know of a potential champion Big Tree? You can use the Big Tree list to search for new champion trees. First identify the tree and measure its circumference in inches at chest height. If the circumference measurement is larger or within a few inches of the same species tree on the Big Tree List, you may have a new champion! Whether or not you find an actual big tree champion, looking for the biggest trees in your neighborhood can be lots of fun and a great learning experience.
Please help us by following these steps:
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This information will be sent to the volunteer NH Big Tree Coordinator. She will get in touch with you within a 2 month time frame.
Thank you for your nomination!
The New Hampshire Big Tree of the Month
Big Tree September 2008-Basswood (Tillia Americana)
By Anne Krantz, UNH Cooperative Extension NH Big Tree Committee
For years I have been driving by a huge bass tree next to the road by the Souhegan River and never noticed it. It’s camouflaged by an ash growing right next to it. Both trees have similar tall straight trunks and bark.
It was the strange seed pods on some young bass trees nearby that captured my curiosity. I stopped to inspect. One tree led to another and much to my astonishment I found a low branch with the huge, distinctive heart-shaped leaves dangling down from a huge basswood tree trunk. Looking up I could see the bass tree was even taller than the ash tree next to it.
