(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A couple of trees in Will County have joined the list of the state’s Big Tree Champions.
The Illinois Big Tree Champions Register is a list of the 117 largest trees of specific varieties in the state. Now, thanks to tree aficionado and environmental science teacher David Shepard, who measured and nominated them, Will County can boast of two trees on the list: a jack pine and a black maple.
Both are in Messenger Woods in Homer Glen.
According to Will County Forest Preserve District spokeswoman Cindy Cain, Shepard nominated four trees for the list. Two of them made the cut.
“We were super-excited because we haven’t had a tree on this list in the state for quite a while, and Messenger Woods is our oldest preserve. It dates back to 1930 so it would make sense that we would have champion trees there,” she said.
The champion jack pine is 83 feet tall and five feet in circumference. The black maple is 118 feet tall and more than 8 ½ feet in circumference.
Cain says the last time Will County had trees on the champions list was in 1995, when a downy hawthorn tree was measured in Frankfort. A box elder tree in Elwood was on the list in 1986.
Trees come off the list when they’re damaged, die or replaced by a larger tree of the same species.
Related
Listen to our new podcast Courier Pigeon
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram