Foresters Merle Ring and Mike Richard measure the champion black willow tree in 2022.

OXFORD — Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District needs your help tracking down the most impressive trees that Oxford County has to offer! This summer while you are spending time outside on your property or hiking, fishing, and enjoying the great outdoors of Western Maine, keep your eyes open for very big trees. The District keeps a register of big trees in the county, which catalogs the largest specimen of each native species we have found. Old trees that have withstood the test of time, disease, and human activities are truly something to behold, and finding one is very exciting!

There are 21 species yet to be nominated, many of which are smaller species of trees that may be found in wet areas, along streams and ponds. Here are a few clues to help you find some of these elusive trees:

•  Jack Pine could be found in the area around Upton.
•  Sweet Birch might be found from Rumford and Newry south along the banks of streams or moist, rich upland soils, and on younger trees, the bark has a very pronounced flavor of wintergreen.
•  American Hornbeam might be found from Waterford northeast to Greenwood,
  Woodstock, Milton, and Rumford.
•  Black Tupelo might be found from Otisfield north and east to Norway, Sumner, and Canton. It has also been reported on the South side of Pleasant Mountain in Denmark on flat, open, wet areas. Black Tupelo, though not large, can be as old as 500 years.
•  Sassafras might be found in the Waterford, Sweden, Stoneham area.

There are great resources online to help with tree identification. If you find a tree that you think may be a new champion or large enough to dethrone a reigning champ, get in touch! Nominators of winning trees will receive a copy of Forest Trees of Maine, Centennial Edition 1908-2008! We will be accepting nominations until October 1, 2024. To learn more and nominate a tree, visit our website at oxfordcountyswcd.org/oxford-register-of-big-trees
Happy searching!