March 25, 2014

Portland now officially holds the Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously hugging trees in one minute.

No, this isn’t an episode from Portlandia.

Last July, the Bureau of Environmental Services, Friends of Trees, Treecology Inc., and Hoyt Arboretum joined together to try and break the record. 936 people ventured out to Washington Park and paid tribute to our natural giants with a great big hug. Now we can boast that we officially broke the record!

But we just learned we have global competitors!  Scotland has challenged Portland. Ensure our place as the top tree hugging community by participating in our next hugging event on July 12, 2014 in Washington Park (more info to come). 

Trees are important for our community’s health; not only do they provide us oxygen and consume carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants, trees also manage stormwater, protecting us from landslides and other environmental hazards.

Find out more about how trees benefit you and the environment on the Bureau of Environmental Services website.