Do you personally have or know a neighbor that has the largest tree you have seen? This year the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with the Maine Forest Service to hold our first annual Big Tree contest. The goal is to find really big/old native trees.

The contest will run through September 15. After nominations come in to Penobscot County Soil & Water Conservation District, information will be given to District Forester Terri Coolong of the Maine Forest Service. She will then visit the site of each nominated tree. The tree may be measured to see if it is the biggest in Penobscot County or even better, in the state! County champions will be on the PCSWCD website. Anyone who finds a tree that becomes a state champion will have their tree posted on the Maine Forest Service website. When there is a notable tree, Terri will photograph it for documentation.

This can become a great, fun summer project to do as a family or start a little competition among friends. Owners of champion trees receive a certificate, a “Forest Trees of Maine” book, and will be recognized at the PCSWCD annual banquet. Nominators of trees that are “big” for the contest will receive a t-shirt. For Native Tree Lists and Nomination forms you can go to:http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_management/project_canopy/programs/…

For more information, call Terri Coolong at MFS (215-0679) or Amy Polyot at PCSWCD (947-6622, ext. 3), e-mailterri.r.coolong@maine.gov or amy.polyot@penobscotswcd.org or stop in at the PCSWCD office located at 1423 Broadway in Bangor, Maine.

Please return the forms to Amy Polyot, 1423 Broadway, Suite 2, Bangor, ME 04401.