Falmouth Heritage Trees Program

Falmouth’s Heritage Trees is a local adaptation of the National Champion Tree Program, a long-standing national hunt to identify, celebrate, and preserve the biggest trees in the United States.

The National Champion Tree campaign was launched by American Forests nearly a century ago as a competitive search to discover and save the largest living specimens of 100 different tree species, with the goal of further engaging the public in forestry activities. Champion Trees are identified using a standardized point system that combines trunk circumference, tree height, and average crown spread. Since the 1940s, the program has maintained a National Register of Champion Trees, with the list reaching 561 species found across the U.S. today. Winners have graced the American Forests magazine pages for generations, from the General Sherman Sequoia in California to a 90-foot-tall white oak in Virginia.

In 2023, the program’s home moved from American Forests to the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture School of Natural Resources. As one of the world’s leading research land grant institutions, they plan to advance the science of large trees through preserving their genetic material. Under its new home, the program not only continues the legacy of continuously documenting the largest trees but also creates resources, research opportunities, and partnerships that foster a deeper understanding of these gentle giants and their role in healthy ecosystems.

Inspired by these national and state efforts, Falmouth’s Heritage Trees brings this spirit of discovery and stewardship to the conservation lands protected by the 300 Committee Land Trust. Discovering, documenting, and celebrating the biggest trees on our conservation lands, inspires community stewardship by connecting the past, present, and future through shared conservation values.