To recognize and celebrate the many, beautiful, old trees in Niskayuna, the Niskayuna Tree Council sponsored its first-ever Great Tree Hunt!
Trees provide many benefits to the town of Niskayuna. Trees:
- Improve air quality by producing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide
- Increase property values
- Reduce energy usage by providing shade
- Improve the town’s economic viability
- Provide food, shelter, and habitat for birds and wildlife
- Absorb sound, reducing noise pollution by as much as 40%
- Have appraised values of up to $10,000
- Reduce stress and improve one’s mood
- Bind the soil and prevent erosion
- Settle out and trap dust, pollen, and smoke from the air
- Provide a living legacy for the next generation
The Tree Council is hoping that by recognizing and celebrating these old giants, we can help preserve them for future generations.
The town was looking for the largest trees in the following categories: Beech, Hemlock, Maple, Oak, White Pine, Willow, and Other. Niskayuna residents had to submit the type of tree, tree circumference (measured at the 4 feet level), and tree location. We had over 25 entries. You can see all entries here. Congratulations to the winners and to all for submitting entries of your beautiful trees! Certificates for all the winners can be picked up at the Town Planner’s office (Laura Robertson) at Town Hall.
The winning entries for each category (photos below):
Largest Silver Maple
Nominator: Matt Gaspary
Location: Lock 7 Road
Measurement: 204 inches
Largest Multi-Stemmed Silver Maple
Nominator: Dan Smith
Location: Clifton Park Rd.
Measurement: 252 inches
Largest White Oak
Nominator: Teddy Ciampa
Location: Baker Ave.
Measurement: 173 inches
Largest Swamp Oak
Nominator: Kay Matuszyk
Location: Baker Ave.
Measurement: 103 inches
Largest White Pine
Nominator: Jon Marr
Location Antonia Drive
Measurement: 132 inches
Largest Willow
Nominator: Leigh Ciampa
Location: Baker Woods Park
Measurement: 181 inches
Largest Poplar (& Largest Tree Overall!)
Nominator: Jordan Frank
Location: Off Bike Path on Lock 7 Road
Measurement: 295 inches
Largest Tulip Tree
Nominator: Jaime Bisceglia
Location: Grand Blvd.
Measurement: 140 inches
Largest Dawn Redwood
Nominator: Carol Carey
Location: Mohawk Rd.
Measurement: 57 inches
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The Tree Council also reminds residents that with the spongy moth infestation this past year, fall is the time to look at your trees to see if there are any egg sacs on your trees. If there are, you should scrape them off into sudsy water to destroy them and not onto the ground. On the ground, they can still live. By doing this now, you can protect your trees for next year. You can get more information on spongy moths and how to protect your trees here and by watching a spongy moth seminar given to town
