Portland Breaks World Tree-Hugging Record

We did it again!

In addition to being named one of the ten best U.S. cities for urban forests, Portland made the Guinness World Records for tree hugging on July 20 — with 951 people hugging trees at the same time at Hoyt Arboretum.

The “Hug a Tree at Hoyt” event was organized by Treecology and Hoyt Arboretum. As you’ll see in the bonus video, Friends of Trees’ Jesse Batty organized the tree huggers using a style familiar to anyone who has planted at an FoT neighborhood planting. In fact, all the hugging group leaders wore orange FoT crew leader vests. Watch this bonus video to hear some memorable quotes from Jesse.

Saturday’s record in Portland broke the previous record set by the United Kingdom’s Forestry Commission in Delamere Forest, Cheshire, U.K., on Sept. 11, 2011, with 702 huggers. England tree huggers have tweeted their congratulations and their determination to rise to the challenge to plan another tree hug in their neck of the woods.

Of course, Guinness World Records needs to confirm the new record before Portland receives the official title, and this could take several months.

The day included crafts for kids, hugs and stickers from Friends of Trees mascot Garry Oak, and assistance and leadership from Portland Timbers mascot Timber Joey, as you’ll see in this short video:

See more photos from the day on Friends of Trees’ Flickr page, or read more about the tree hug in Sara Hottman’s story on OregonLive.

–TR