PARIS — Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District has announced the results of the 2016 Oxford County Big Tree Contest results.

A black cherry tree in Paris became an Oxford County champ while an American chestnut tree joined the county register, bringing the Oxford County total to three co-champs.

Although a new chestnut discovered last fall in Lovell had been given the title of “tallest American chestnut in North America,” the first find in Hebron remains the holder of the most points. 

The district traveled north over the Height of Land and through Oquossoc to measure an American elm located at Upper Dam in Richardson Township owned by Union Water Power Co. This tree became the new county champ for American elm trees and, again, knocked out an old champ from Waterford. While not in the running for a state champ, this tree defines the beauty of the stately old elms that once lined village streets.

The district had three new trees from the Waterford area to add to the 2016 register: a balsam fir, a black spruce and a common juniper (Maine holds the title for the largest common juniper in the U.S.). And lastly a witch hazel from West Paris was added to the list. 

After changes in champions and addition of new champions, the trees by town are:

Buckfield: Butternut; shagbark hickory; sugar maple; and chestnut oak

Byron: Striped maple, which is a state champion.

Canton: White spruce, which is a state champion nominee. 

Fryeburg: Silver maple, which is a state champion; pitch pine, which is a state champion nominee; and red pine.

Hebron: Bigtooth aspen; American chestnut, which is a county co-champion; and Eastern red cedar, a state champion.

Lovell: Northern white cedar, which is a state champion nominee; American chestnut, which is a county co-champion; Northern red oak, a state champion; and white oak. 

Milton Township: Tamarack.

Norway: Eastern hemlock, which is a state champion nominee.

Otisfield: Yellow birch, which is a county co-champion.

Oxford: Red maple, county co-champion. 

Paris: Yellow birch, which is a county co-champion; black cherry, Eastern cottonwood, which is a state champion nominee; Eastern hop hornbeam, which is a state champion nominee; and white swamp oak, which is a state champion.

Porter: American chestnut, which is a county co-champion.

Richardson Township: American elm.

Rumford: Red maple, which is a county co-champion.

Stow: Paper birch.

Sumner: Black oak, which is a state champion; and Eastern white pine, which is a state champion nominee. 

Waterford: White ash, which is a state champion; American basswood, which is a state champion; balsam fir; common juniper; black spruce; and American sycamore, which is a state champion. 

West Paris: Witch hazel.

The 2017 Big Tree Contest will run May 15 to Sept. 15. The 2016 Oxford County Register of Big Trees can be obtained by contacting the OCSWCD. The office is at 17 Olson Road, Suite, 3.

FMI: www.oxfordcountyswcd.org, 207-743-5789 ext. 111.