Tennessee has no statewide heritage-tree statute, and the City of Hendersonville does not separately codify a 'heritage tree' designation. However, the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) Landmark, Historic & Heritage Tree Registry includes the Walton Oak in Sumner County — a 250-year-old oak associated with Hendersonville's early settlement. The TUFC registry is advisory recognition rather than a regulatory protection, but listed trees inform local Tree City USA priorities and are commonly protected through site-plan tree preservation requirements. TCA § 43-28-312 imposes 2x/3x damages for unauthorized cutting.
The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) maintains a Landmark, Historic & Heritage Tree Registry that recognizes individual trees of statewide significance. A 'Landmark Tree' is one 'commonly recognized as an established and familiar feature ... confirmed as a significant part of the community's heritage.' A 'Historic Tree' has been 'a direct witness to a historic event ... and confirmed to date to that time.' The Walton Oak in Sumner County is listed on the TUFC registry under Middle TN / Sumner County and is a 250-year-old oak associated with the Walton family's early settlement of the Hendersonville area. The TUFC registry is recognition-based, not a regulatory designation — the registry does not, by itself, restrict private removal. Tennessee state law (TCA Title 11) protects only State Natural Areas, Scenic Rivers, and forest health, not individual private heritage trees. Within Hendersonville, heritage and specimen tree protection in practice runs through (1) the Tree Survey / Tree Replacement Plan requirements of the Site Plan and Design Review Checklist on regulated development sites, (2) Tree Protection Fence Detail requirements during construction, and (3) the Tree City USA program's community forestry priorities (Hendersonville has 32 years of Tree City USA designation through 2023 and 26 Growth Awards). Trees on USACE-managed Old Hickory Lake fee land are federally protected under the 2020 Shoreline Management Plan. TCA § 43-28-312 imposes double damages for negligent and triple damages for intentional unauthorized cutting of another's timber.
TUFC registry listing alone is not a regulatory protection. Damage to a heritage tree on a regulated development site in violation of an approved Tree Survey or Tree Replacement Plan is enforceable by Planning. Damage on USACE shoreline land triggers federal enforcement. Damage on a neighbor's land triggers TCA § 43-28-312 (2x/3x damages). The Walton Oak and similar landmark trees are protected primarily by private stewardship, easement, and registry-driven public attention.
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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Hendersonville, TN
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