The borough of Westwood is working to preserve its famous 18th century “Kissing Tree,” which was diagnosed with a terminal fungus last year.
The 70-foot-tall Copper Beech is located at Veterans Memorial Park, which is steps from the borough’s shopping district and train station. The state Department of Environmental Protection estimates it was planted around 1792.
On Sunday, the Westwood Shade Tree Advisory Committee said mulch had been installed around the tree, its first step in working to keep it alive. This comes about a year after it was diagnosed with a terminal fungus during a routine inspection…