In addition to being “weird” and having a vibrant coffee scene, Portland has a reputation for being a city full of tree huggers. Local organizations like Friends of Trees, Hoyt Arboretum and Treecology Inc. decided to put that reputation to the ultimate test—the Guinness World Records.
On Saturday, tree huggers from across the city will gather at the intersection of Southwest Kingston Drive and Knights Boulevard at Hoyt Arboretum to try to break the current world record for the greatest number of people hugging trees in a single area—which currently stands at 935.
“We came across an article online…about a town in Pakistan making an attempt on taking the record from the current holders in Cheshire, England,” said Damon Schrosk of Treecology, a tree-care firm in Portland. “My first thought was ‘C’mon Portland, why don’t we have this record?’ When Martin Nicholson of Hoyt Arboretum offered us up a lot of trees to hug, we jumped on the opportunity.”
Everyone in Portland is invited to attend, but pre-registration is required because of the strict regulations that surround Guinness record-setting attempts. After a 2 p.m. check-in Saturday, the world record attempt will start at approximately 3 p.m. As parking at Hoyt Arboretum is severely limited, the use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.
Portland Timbers mascot Timber Joey will be in attendance, and complimentary beverages will be on offer from participating local breweries, along with tree-related activities for families with children.
“The tree hug is a fun and interactive way for humans of all generations to relate to nature in our cities and develop awareness of Portland’s amazing trees,” said Friends of Trees Neighborhood Trees Specialist Jesse Batty. “Events like this bring people together around a cause that is bigger than themselves. The simple act of hugging a tree reminds one that all living things are connected.”
Students who want to pre-register can visit hoytarboretum.org/events/upcoming-events1.