An aerial view of the University of Sulaimani’s record-setting tree sentence, created with 6,000 myrtle trees. (Photo: 964media)
Sulaimani university sets Guinness record with 6,000 trees
SULAYMANIYAH — The University of Sulaimani holds a Guinness World Record for the largest tree sentence, having planted 6,000 myrtle trees spelling out its name in English across its campus.
Guinness lists the record as achieved on Aug. 5 with South Kurdistan Estate for Construction Limited, and says botanists supervised the planting to ensure the trees were properly maintained and able to grow long term. Organisers received the award at the Guinness office in Dubai on Aug. 26 and announced it on Thursday.
The project took about a year of coordination with the university, said Yadgar Faiq of ASE Company, which supervised it, and was intended to promote the Kurdistan Region internationally as committed to environmental protection. Guinness describes it as combining environmental awareness with a permanent display promoting green space on campus.
The university announced its bid in June. The Guinness listing gives 6,000 trees, settling conflicting local reports that had put the figure at 8,000.