Big Trees of FH

Celebrating Big Trees & 250 Years of American Independence in FH

The Big trees in Fair Haven have been around a lot longer than Fair Haven itself. Big trees do big work to improve our quality of life. The bigger and older the tree the greater it’s ability to clean our air and filter and soak up rain to clean our ground water and prevent flooding. They’re also just plain beautiful and have shaped the character of our town creating a shady canopy and defined special places like McCarter Park’s shady playground, River Oaks beautiful properties, the Natural Area’s cool peaceful trails and historic streets like Buttonwood drive. Since trees don’t have birth certificates, getting their age right is more of an art than a science but thankfully we have tree experts that can help.

In honor of America’s 250th celebration, the shade Tree Commission thought it was time to recognize some of our oldest trees-13 to be exact, representing the 13 colonies! This list included 5 special trees on private property that are listed on the NJ Forestry Service’s Big Tree Hunt. The remaining trees are in the Boro right of way and have been identified using our new town tree inventory tool. Each of these magnificent trees will be wrapped in patriotic bunting so they can be easily identified. Please take a moment to hug one, snap a photo and post on Facebook!

Below are the 13 (+1) trees...scroll to the bottom to see a map of where these trees are located.

Finally, if you know of any big trees we might have missed, email us at fairhaventrees@gmail.com

320 years old

White Oak

(15 Hance Road)

#1 - This white oak (Quercus alba) began its life in the early 1700s growing alongside the Navesink River where the native Lenape once fished and harvested oysters. Perhaps the bounty of oyster shells deposited over the years contributed to its health and longevity? This oak is particularly beautiful because its branches have never been trimmed and its proud owner watches over it carefully.

Please view this magnificent tree from the driveway entrance so as not to upset the resident dogs.

300+ years old

Copper Beech

(167 Grange Ave.)

#2 - This 300 year old copper beech has been recognized as the largest in Monmouth County. Known for their “elephant hide” smooth grey bark and beautiful leaf color, many of our state's beeches have succumbed to the highly fatal, beech leaf disease. We hope this beauty stays strong for years to come!

292 years old

Black Oak

(22 Glen Place)

#3 - At close to 300, this black oak is the oldest tree in a public right of way. Over it’s long life, this single large oak has acted like a giant sponge absorbing and filtering millions of gallons of stormwater that flows into Schwenker's pond, a popular fishing spot.

256 years old

Black Oak

(269 Hance Rd.)

#4 - In 1928, when this black oak was only 100, Knollwood Elementary School was built down the street. How many students have walked and ridden their bikes along the sidewalk that curves around its large trunk in the past 100 years?

279 years old

Red Oak

(44 Hance Road)

#5 -This grand old red oak, is the reason the current owner purchased this home. Beautiful old trees enhance a homes appeal and value!

252 years old

Black Oak

(McCarter Park)

#6 - The McCarter Park old oaks, were part of the wooded entrance to the McCarter estate, Rumson Hill, which was built in 1906. McCarter thankfully maintained the old trees and also planted rows of Buttonwood trees along the grand driveway. A remnant of this beautiful 120 year old allay is today’s Buttonwood drive.

200 yrs old

American Linden

(324 Fair Haven Rd.)

#7 - This beautiful American Linden tree was saved by its owners who insisted the new sidewalk curve around its roots which not only made for a more interesting walkway but also preserved a special tree. Sidewalks plans can accommodate trees!

243 yrs old

Black Oak

(53 Highland Ave.)

#8 - Massive oaks like this one, average about 2,000 to 3,000 acorns a year, but oaks have a “mast” cycle and can produce bumper crops of 10,000+ acorns every 2-3 years to overwhelm predators like squirrels and ensure successful germination.

200 years old

Tulip Poplar

(FH Fields Natural Area - Near Ridge Road)

#9 -This tulip tree started its life, growing along Ridge Road on the sprawling agricultural property first owned by the Hance family until the 1880’s and then by JT Lovett's nursery. In 1975, the town of Fair Haven acquired 77 acres of the former nursery for public use as Fair Haven Fields and the Natural Area and now this huge tulip tree is surrounded by a wooded wonderland.

#10

216 yrs old

Black Oak

(98 Park Lane)

#10 - This Park Lane black oak is located in the heart of River Oaks, a neighborhood celebrated for its tree-lined streets. Many beautiful old oaks remain despite removal pressures posed by development.

#11

200 years old

American Elm

(223 Third St.)

#11 - This special majestic American elm is an unusual survivor of the deadly dutch elm disease that decimated our elm tree population during the 1960’s. Could this one be immune? Several new disease resistant cultivars have been planted in FH including the Sons of Liberty Elm planted this year in FH Fields.