The Tree of the Year 2000 is a sycamore standing the garden of the house Sólheimar in Bíldudalur. In 2000 the tree was measured at 9,6 m height, with a circumference at 1 m height of 197 cm. Above 1 m the tree trunk splits into a main trunk and a large side branch. In the year 2000 the tree also developed seeds for the first time, that a closer examination showed to be fully formed, so seeds were gathered from the tree and given to a local gardener for cultivation. The tree is beautifully shaped, especially considering that the Westfjords, where Bíldudalur is located, are not known as the best growing sites in Iceland. Bíldudalur, however, is more sheltered than many of the other fjords in the area, with temperatures in the town reaching 20°C in summer. The tree is also located south of the house and thus sheltered from cold northerly winds. Sycamores are not common in Iceland, with most of them found in older areas of Reykjavík, planted around the 1930’s. The sycamore at Sólheimar was planted in 1930, along with rowan and laburnum trees, now gone. Most likely the plants came via ship from Reykjavík. How well the sycamore in Bíldudalur is growing is a positive indication for greater use of sycamore in forestry in Iceland.
Location of the tree on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/ACPh8g6R73iPmPtv6
