Oxford Register of Big Trees

Do you know of a big tree on your property or in your community? Nominate it to see if it’s a champion!

2020 was an amazing year for the Oxford County Register of Big Trees!  Oxford County’s newest champion is a Balsam Poplar, or for those of you familiar with the works of local author C.A. Stephens, a Balm of Gilead. Located in Bethel at the home of Scott and Michele Cole, the tree is 105 feet tall, 194 inches in circumference, and has a total of 318.6 points. It’s a beauty, but not only did it become our latest county champ, it also became a state champion. In all, Oxford County lost 1 state champ and added 10 new trees to the Maine Register of Big Trees, for a total of 17 State Champions!

The other big news is that Oxford County now has its first 2 nominations for the National Registry of Big Trees! The two entries are a Mountain Paper Birch, also located in Bethel, and an Eastern Hophornbeam planted on Paris Hill in 1812.

Here’s a breakdown of where the Registry now stands:

New County Champions:

Balsam Poplar, Bethel, nominated and owned by Scott and Michele Cole

Bigtooth Aspen (co-champ), Paris, nominated by Rob and Jean Federico, owned by Komulainen

White Spruce (co-champ), Paris, nominated by Jean Federico, owned by Talley

Existing State Champions (prior to 2020):

American Basswood, Waterford, nominated and owned by John and Karen O’Brien

American Sycamore, Waterford, nominated and owned by Willoughby

Black Oak, Sumner, nominated and owned by Don and Lee Berry

Northern Red Oak, Lovell, nominated and owned by Fred Mitchell

Redcedar, Hebron, nominated by Fred Huntress and owned by Magers

Silver Maple, Fryeburg, nominated and owned by Russell

White Ash, Waterford, nominated by Helene Decker and owned by Colbath

New State Champions:

American Beech, Paris, nominated and owned by Woodworth

American Chestnut, Hebron, nominated and owned by Siekman and Crockett

Balsam Poplar, Bethel, nominated and owned by Scott and Michele Cole

Butternut, Buckfield, nominated and owned by Root Star Farm

Eastern Hophornbeam, nominated by Leroy Wilson, owned by Hammond

Eastern White Pine, Sumner, nominated and owned by Standard

Mountain Paper Birch, Bethel, nominated by MacKenzie Federico, owned by Ryan

Northern White Cedar, Lovell, nominated and owned by Shoo Hale

Staghorn Sumac, Sumner, nominated by MaKayla Federico, owned by Fournier

Tamarack, Milton Plantation, nominated by MacKenzie Federico, owned by Billings

Nominees for National Registry:

Mountain Paper Birch, Bethel, nominated by MacKenzie Federico, owned by Ryan

National Registry of Big Trees

Eastern Hophornbeam, nominated by Leroy Wilson, owned by Hammond

Many of these great trees are still living because they are growing deep in a forest, while others  are located on a roadside or main byway. Many of the tree owners are very proud of their trees and love to share with interested folks, but please check with OCSWCD for permission to visit.

For a copy of the 2020 Oxford County Registry of Big Trees, please contact OCSWCD by emailing oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com or calling us at 207.744.3111. The new, updated Maine Register of Big Trees may be viewed online at https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/publications/index.html.

The Oxford County Register of Big Trees 

To see all 67 of the native Maine trees, or to get your entry form, click below.

Updated Tree List 2021 Tree List

Click here Entry form