MAYOR JEN GRIGORAITIS with members of the Melrose Tree Project and Big Tree Hunt winners. (Nancy Clover Photo)
By ELLEN PUTNAM
MELROSE — Recently, the Melrose Tree Project announced the winners of the citywide Big Tree Hunt for the tallest and widest trees in Melrose. This competition was held to increase awareness of the trees we have in Melrose and their importance in our lives.
The ceremony was held on the Melrose Common under the dawn redwood tree, which was once thought to be extinct. Mayor Jen Grigoraitis and members of the Melrose Tree Project presented the awards.
The winners were as follows:
- David Goodhue in the Adult category for tallest tree (a silver maple that was 98.8 feet tall)
- Joshua Johnston in the High School category for widest tree (a Japanese crab apple that was 64 inches around)
- Vincent Cunningham in the Middle School category for tallest tree (a Chinese crab apple that was 30.8 feet tall)
- The Oehler kids in the Elementary School category for widest tree (a silver maple that was 121 inches around)
- The Tall Tree Finder Kittens in the Team category for tallest tree (a Douglas fir that was 115 feet tall)
THE DAWN REDWOOD TREE on the Melrose Common. (Nancy Clover Photo)
These were just the tallest and widest trees that were found and confirmed in each category. There may be taller and wider trees in Melrose that weren’t submitted in the hunt, that have yet to be found!
James Horne, the founder of the Melrose Tree Project, emphasized the importance of preserving large trees, pointing out that a single large tree can sequester significantly more carbon than younger, smaller trees. He argued that large trees should have the same historic preservation considerations as historic buildings in Melrose.
The Melrose Tree Project will be continuing its work in raising awareness around and preserving Melrose’s large trees with the goal of ensuring that these giants will be with us for years to come.
