ARBORIST BRIAN FRENCH climbs and documents the largest trees of many species then shares the information with the public to better tree awareness and protection. He will be the featured presenter at an event to be held Tues., May 6 in Vancouver. Photo courtesy of the Master Gardener Foundation
A JOURNEY TO THE TOPS of the tallest trees, the group Ascending the Giants measures and documents the largest trees of each species in Oregon and Washington. Photo courtesy of the Master Gardener Foundation
ARBORIST BRIAN FRENCH has worked with top-notch researchers in the U.S. and abroad. He is the Oregon State coordinator for the Champion Tree Registry and co-founder of a “Big Tree” advocacy nonprofit group called Ascending the Giants. Photo courtesy of the Master Gardener Foundation
The Master Gardener Foundation of Clark County, in partnership with The City of Vancouver Urban Forestry, will present a special event featuring Brian French, a certified arborist and tree risk assessor.
The event, entitled “Ascending the Giants,’’ will be held Tues., May 6, at 6:30 p.m., at the Water Resources Center, located at 4600 SE Columbia Way (in the Bruce E. Hagensen Community Room), in Vancouver.
French has worked with top-notch researchers in the U.S. and abroad. He is the Oregon State coordinator for the Champion Tree Registry and co-founder of a “Big Tree” advocacy nonprofit group called Ascending the Giants. French climbs and documents the largest trees of many species then shares the information with the public as a non-confrontational approach to better tree awareness and protection.
Because of his love of trees and his passion to conserve them, French a lot of his time on “Ascending the Giants.” His respect for the environment has helped shape one of the project’s primary objectives of preserving the integrity of these majestic giants and sharing the knowledge gained from the experience. He wants to encourage gardeners to look up and appreciate old trees in the landscape.
“We look at old trees as something important. When trees are 300 to 400 years old, we imagine what the world must have looked like then. They are the evidence of where we came from,” French said.
A journey to the tops of the tallest trees, Ascending the Giants group members measures and documents the largest trees of each species in Oregon and Washington. These trees demonstrate the pinnacle of what a tree species can be; they are called “champion trees.” The focus of French’s presentation will be showcasing these specimen trees, as well as large trees within our community and mature trees in our landscapes.
The award-winning adventure film “Treeverse” will also be shown. The film shows a trek through an old-growth Oregon white oak forest, as “Ascending the Giants” founding members travel an unprecedented distance by tree canopy traversing.
The event is free and open to the public. No registration required.
The Urban Forestry program, celebrating 25 years as a Tree City USA, serves to maximize the aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits that trees provide to city residents and visitors through preserving, managing and enhancing existing trees and other vegetation and promoting the reforestation of the urban area.
The Master Gardener Foundation of Clark County is dedicated to promoting research-based horticultural practices at the 78th Street Heritage Farm and other venues across Clark County through education, consultative programs and experiences which preserve or enhance our environment.
For more information, visit www.mgfcc.com.
