Rhode Island Tree Council Names 30 Champion Trees
Blithewold Manor earned recognition for 30 trees, including 21 that rank as the largest of their species in the state.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Botany
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The Rhode Island Tree Council recently designated 30 trees at Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum as State Champion Trees. These specimens were selected based on their height, crown spread, and overall historical significance.
Why it matters
The Helen Walker Raleigh Champion Tree program uses these designations to recognize and preserve the most significant tree specimens within the state. This distinction highlights Blithewold Manor's commitment to maintaining its historic landscape as it marks its 100th anniversary as an arboretum.
The 30 recognized trees include 21 first-place State Champion specimens, four second-place trees, and five third-place entries. Assistant Grounds Manager Dan Daley and intern Logan Fournier performed the measurements and identification required for the council's review.
The players
Rhode Island Tree Council
This organization is responsible for identifying and managing the state's most significant tree populations through the Helen Walker Raleigh Champion Tree program.
Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum
This historic estate in Rhode Island is a public garden and arboretum currently celebrating a century of operation as a designated plant collection.
Dan Daley
He serves as the Assistant Grounds Manager at Blithewold Manor and helped lead the effort to measure and identify the trees for state evaluation.
Logan Fournier
As an intern at the site, he worked alongside the grounds management team to compile the necessary identification data for the council.
The details
The selection process for the Helen Walker Raleigh Champion Tree program evaluates candidates on strict criteria including height, crown spread, and historical importance. These 30 recognized trees will be featured in the site's members' magazine over the next 10 years to educate the public on their significance.
Timeline
The arboretum marks its 100th anniversary in 2026.
The Big Picture
This achievement is part of the ongoing work of the Helen Walker Raleigh Champion Tree program, which systematically tracks the state's largest and most significant flora. The recognition of 30 trees at one site underscores the importance of the manor as a hub for both botanical history and modern conservation efforts.
Visitors to Blithewold Manor can now view these 30 state-recognized specimens as part of the estate's ongoing efforts to highlight its historic landscape. Over the next decade, members can expect to learn more about the specific history and maintenance requirements of these champion trees through the site's quarterly magazine.
The takeaway
Preserving champion trees helps maintain local ecological diversity and historical continuity within the landscape. Readers interested in conservation can look for similar programs in their own communities to help track and protect significant old-growth trees.
Further reading
For more on the state's unique plant life, see the Rhode Island Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EastBayRI.
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