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A heritage tree is typically a large, individual tree with unique value, which is considered irreplaceable. The major criteria for heritage tree designation are age, rarity, and size, as well as aesthetic, botanical, ecological, and historical value.
Trees are unique living resources that provide shade, assistance in keeping the air clean of pollutants, resting places for wildlife, and natural beauty. The Heritage Tree Program focuses on the identification of specimen trees, promotes tree awareness, advocates for the protection of mature trees, and educates community members.
Awards and Recognition
Awards and Recognition
Eligible trees, judged by the Heritage Tree Committee, meet one or more of the following criteria:
size: circumference of seventy-five inches (75") measured forty-eight inches (48") above natural grade. However, three species, quercus (oak), sequoia (redwood) or cedrus (cedar) qualify with a circumference of twelve inches (12") measured at fifty-four inches (54") above natural grade.
age
condition
species indigenous to California
historical significance
Awards may also be given for the best preserved tree and the best newly planted tree. See our 2013 awards program.
Attached are all of the materials that have been collected, including history of the Heritage Tree Award program, booklet and news articles. Alayna located the original founder of the HT program. Debbie at naturemend@sbcglobal.net. She created the booklet and should be a wonderful resource to this committee.
Jane Tracy at jane@janetracydesign.com is also a great resource when you are ready to have the text published in a format to be uploaded to the Town website, but sounds like Andrew can take care of that too. Jane is just finishing up with our final edits for the BYH program. It has taken a lot of time but I think everyone will be happy with the results.
Since the Backyard Habitat award program and the Heritage Tree award program are similar in nature, (:-) I had planned for us to create website documents and printed materials that are similarly formatted. BYH consists of an opening page on the Town website that gives basic information and benefits of backyard habitats. Supporting documents will be found at the bottom of the page in links that take you to Best Practices, Criteria & Application, and Resource Guide. Hoping these final documents will get uploaded to the website this week. They look really nice with pictures dispersed throughout.
This subcommittee will also need to design a forged metal sign as the award gift from the Town. I had thought maybe a hanging sign would make more sense rather than something that is mounted in the ground and perhaps disturbs fragile tree roots.
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