Quail Hollow Ranch recognized for champion tree, gets $180k grant
A Santa Cruz County park has received state and national recognition for a champion tree and is receiving a $183,000 state grant to help restore it.
A 56.4-foot tall red willow at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park in Felton has been awarded the state championship for willows by the California Big Trees Registry. It’s received national acclaim from the National Register of Big Trees.
The tree, which is close to the pond at the park’s entrance, has a trunk circumference of 66.25 inches and a crown spread of 39.31 feet.
“Not only did the leaves turn out to be those of a red willow (newly listed for the park), but those leaves were attached to a 56 foot tall tree. Hard to miss right?” said park volunteer Al Keuter, who nominated the tree. “Apparently the leaves had to hit me in the face.”
The State Habitat Conservation Fund is issuing the park a $183,000 grant, to be matched by the county for a total of $365,340. The money will go toward stream bed stabilization, native plant restoration plantings and interpretive signage.
Quail Hollow Ranch County Park is a 300-acre open space and historic horse ranch located near Felton and Ben Lomond. The park has hiking and equestrian trails, scenic overlooks, and dramatically varied habitats, and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
