Extremely Rare Chestnut Tree Found In Simsbury

Town of Simsbury

SIMSBURY, CT — A rare tree has been found in a publicly accessible wooded area, confirming reports made by local hikers and prompting hopes of the tree species' comeback from extinction.

The Town of Simsbury announced Oct. 11 that reports made by local hikers over the summer had identified a mature purebred American chestnut tree at Ethel Walker Woods.

"The tree is a rare find in Connecticut and an assessment has revealed it to be blighted and deteriorating," wrote the town.

Because the American chestnut tree is functionally extinct and with colder weather approaching, the town was asked by The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) for permission to harvest its seeds."

The Connecticut Chapter of the TACF has been working on hybridization techniques and genetic technologies to breed blight-resistant American chestnuts.

They have been trying to find nut-producing American chestnut trees and the Town of Simsbury was thrilled to have the opportunity to assist with the attempted restoration of a keystone species.

With town support, TACF’s Connecticut chapter mobilized volunteers on Sept. 18, and the chestnut burs were successfully collected before the squirrels could get them.

“While our foundation is researching ways to breed a blight-resistant American chestnut tree, we are actively searching for trees, like the one found in Ethel Walker Woods, to try to obtain fertile nuts to plant along with nuts from other Connecticut trees in our Germplasm Conservation Orchards," said Jack Swatt, president of the TACF's Connecticut chapter.

"In order to restore the American chestnut to the forests of Connecticut, and throughout the American chestnut's range, we need to maintain a genetically diverse population of American chestnuts to outcross any potentially blight-resistant trees that could flourish in Connecticut's climate. Hopefully, this tree's progeny will help further our efforts to breed a blight-resistant American chestnut tree.”

Local officials said they were happy to help.

“The work of TACF, and their group of volunteers, is a great example of the breadth and depth of things going on within our community which can, and often do, have an important regional impact for the long term, and we thank them for their efforts,” said Simsbury Town Manager Marc Nelson.

For more information on The American Chestnut Foundation, please click on this link.