As we await our court hearing (currently scheduled for November 12th), exciting news was received this week about a very special tree at Mount Hope Cemetery. 

A Red Maple tree at Mount Hope has officially been recognized as the new state champion Red Maple, as part of the Illinois Big Tree Register Program. This means this is now the largest known Red Maple tree in the state! Based on the listed measurements, this tree is approximately 240 years, an entire century older than the cemetery itself. 

We are thrilled to hear the news of this champion tree as it reminds us of several things: for one, that Mount Hope is a truly special and beautiful place full of important natural features. And perhaps more importantly, it reinforces the notion that the undeveloped woods of Mount Hope should not be clear-cut to make way for a solar farm. Some of the areas slated for clear-cutting contain old-growth woods that can be documented as far back as 1940. There may even be a future champion tree among those woods! Losing these 19 acres of woods would be a profound loss. 

The Save Mount Hope Committee would like to honor and celebrate the newly awarded Champion Tree. We will be holding a celebration at Mount Hope on Sunday afternoon from 1:00PM–3:00PM. Please stop by and say hello, have a cupcake and visit this amazing tree. We'd love to see you!