Woodside will once again honor a local resident with its annual Heritage Tree Award on Saturday, April 27. Deadline to apply for the award is April 2.

The award isn't just about age, size, or prominence of a tree, says Debbie Mendelson, who first conceived the idea for the award in 1994. What sets the tree apart, says Ms. Mendelson, a member of the town's Sustainability and Conservation Committee, "is to find outstanding trees owned by people, who show great concern and have gone to special efforts for their tree."

"Often," says Ms. Mendelson, "we find the owners love the tree almost like a family member."

The award will be given on Saturday, April 27, at the Woodside-Portola Valley Earth Fair at the Runnymede Sculpture Garden property.

Ms. Mendelson says Woodside residents can nominate a well-loved tree in their own back yard, or a tree they have admired on a neighbor's property. Applications are available at the Woodside Town Hall. The Heritage Tree Committee will review applications, visit the sites, and select this year's award winning tree.

Click here to get nomination forms online.

— Barbara Wood

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