Where is Newtown’s Largest Acer Saccharum?

By Kendra Bobowick

Tree by tree the search continues for the largest living Acer saccharum in town. The Newtown Forest Association is sponsoring a hunt for the tree more commonly known as the sugar maple, and has received roughly 20 responses since the contest began in April. said Treasurer Guy Peterson. The NFA will accept applications through August 15. Trees must be located in Newtown.

Although entries have come in for trees in locations throughout town, the largest entry so far is from Sandy Hook, Mr Peterson said.

“The largest entry as of right now is over 180 inches in diameter — that’s about 15 feet,” he said. “I’ll venture a guess it’s over 120 years old.”

During the next two weeks as the deadline nears, NFA members will be confirming the entries received.

“We’ll start verification and a [NFA] representative will proof the size of the tree,” Mr Peterson said.

Time remains for one resident to win the $250 prize the NFA will award following the contest. Contestants can find application forms online at newtownforestassociation.org/treecontest2006. The forms can be printed and returned or filled out electronically, Mr Peterson said. He offers some words of caution when selecting a tree.

“If you’re not picking a tree on your own property you must get permission [from the property owner],” he said.

The contest asks participants to measure the maple’s circumference at a height of 54 inches, or 4½ feet off the ground.

With goals to raise awareness, Mr Peterson hopes the contest can pique people’s curiosity about trees.

Offering his observations he said he has respect for the older trees in town. “They have lived a long, long time,” he said.

Noting an environmental asset, he said, “They scrub the air clean, they prevent erosion.”

Also naming historic significance, he said, “Back 100 years ago Connecticut was a farming community; you don’t find many forests [in Connecticut] that old because of the agricultural nature of the community 100 years ago.”

He continued, “You’re not seeing people tear down forests for farming anymore,” he said. He then pointed to another circumstance he referred to as unfortunate.

“Now deforestation takes place for development, and [trees] are never coming back,” Mr Peterson said.

Education is also a factor behind the contest. Mr Peterson said he hopes children can get up from the couch and go outdoors. “They can go outside and notice what is out there,” he said.

Facts about the sugar maple are available at www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/LandownerFactsheets.

The website indicates that the sugar maple is used to make furniture, veneer, paneling, flooring, gunstocks, tool handles, plywood dies, cutting blocks, woodenwares, bowling pins, musical instruments, etc. Sugar maple is commonly planted as an ornamental because of its potential for bright orange fall foliage. Sugar maple is the classic maple syrup provider; 15 to 25 gallons of sap are required to produce one gallon of maple syrup.

The NFA is sponsoring a hike at the Nettleton Preserve at 10 am on August 19. The area is located off Castle Hill Road. Directions from Flag Pole: turn onto West Street, bear right onto Castle Hill Road; at the top of the hill turn left on to Old Castle Drive and park. Find more information at newtownforestassociation.org.