Basking Ridge's 600 Year Old Ancient Tree Has Died

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township's iconic symbol and beloved 600-year-old tree has died, according to Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church Trustees.

For the past several years, the church noticed the tree was decaying. There was a difference in the amount of leaves, color and texture.

Help was called in from across the country to try and save the tree, but the summer heat and storms are what took down the mighty oak.

"It is sad to say that the hope we all had for our Oak tree’s future has not materialized. The events of this summer have overpowered the internal mechanisms that healthy trees utilize to withstand the intense heat of summer," church trustees said in a statement to the community.

Leaf samples were sent to Rutgers for analysis and results came back negative for pathogens or insects. Keiling Tree and Historical Tree Care also made a detailed aerial examination of the tree looking for any potential signs of life throughout the tree.

"The conclusion of this examination is that the 'tree has declined to the point where the best hope is for the lower trunk to make sprouts next year,' " the trustees said.

The church trustees will still care for the tree by pruning dead limbs in the outer portions of the tree while retaining the structure supported by the cabling system stabilizing the main branches.

An evaluation for any possible next steps will be conducted over the next few weeks.

The Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church will be celebrating its Tricentennial in 2017 which will include the church's history, the "Holy Oak" and more.

To learn more about the 300th anniversary visit the Facebook page.

(Image via Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church)

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