Noting 'Tree Treasures' near you!

People have always made lists and even prepared town tree trails, but over time these sell out or become redundant as trees decline and disappear. The internet now allows tree-interested people to keep up-to-date records of the trees in their town, and share their work with anyone. The main objective is to record the best example of each species to be found in your town. Important dendrological features like ancient woodland or veteran trees should also be included as they are locally important and eventually you may be able to get your list displayed on your town or village website where is can be valued by the community.

The recording form is designed in 'Word' which is used by most people, so the information can be widely and easily shared with others, even on a national scale - hence the inclusion also of 'county or district'. This is how recording works:

a) Trees must be visible from a public place
    For example from the street, footpath, a public park or other public place.

b) Trees should be entered by botanical name under species e.g.
    Betula utilis
    (Where there are several specimens of the same species it is suggested you select no more than the best three and enter them separately on your list.)

c) Trees should be evaluated and given a 'star rating'
    The tree must be established and fairly mature. We suggest a star rating as follows:
      *     Worth a look
     **    Very good tree
    ***   Really spectacular tree which you would not want visitors to miss

d) Tree location must be recorded
    This can be a postal address e.g. 22 Church St, Ambridge or N, S, W or E, 22 Church St. Ambridge (meaning North, South, West or East on the street outside that property - not in the garden) so carrying a compass would be a useful habit. Alternatively, the location may have to be a map reference if the tree is in a large public space, park or woodland so give the name of the location if there is one but use an Ordnance Survey Map to give a six-figure Ordnance Survey grid reference of the location, e.g. 844803. Using the Ordnance Survey map reference will work for any situation even in fields or on hillsides. If you need more information about the use of Ordnance Survey maps, you can email tree_treasures@yahoo.co.uk. GPS systems have been considered but not everyone will want to invest in one.

    It is important to add in the county, e.g. Borsetshire because one day the information may be shown on a national website, searching by county. For big cities like London or Bristol it is appreciated that it may be impossible to give a county, so you may have to repeat the city name in county sector.

Don't forget to email to tree_treasures@yahoo.co.uk saying which town/county you are tree recording so this can be noted and you can be contacted by others who are interested.

Using this WORD recording form

Use the columns and you can insert more rows, click 'Table' on tool bar of your computer, click on the cell for species in the table then click 'Insert rows' to get a row to add another tree and you can sort alphabetically. Information can be easily shared with other people from interested societies in your town or village. Don't be afraid of making a mistake with identification! It can be easily altered. If you would like to learn more about tree identification there are numerous books available and occasional courses can be found which are organised by such bodies as the WEA (Worker Education Authority) and FSC (Field Studies Council).

In some counties have volunteers have been found through The Dendrologist who are willing to run the Introductory Tree Identification Course.

The sample form below is part of a genuine recording one, and below the recorder gives guideline notes which those in other areas and counties can apply.

General Notes on the experience from an individual recorder

Ancient Woodlands, Veteran and Champion Trees

These are some sources of information I have personally found useful:

English Nature (formerly Nature Conservancy Council) have produced an 'Inventory of Ancient Woodlands' for each county; identifying Ancient Semi-Natural Woodlands, Ancient Replanted Woodland and Woodland cleared since the production of the First Series of OS maps (1899-1940). I have used the 'Inventory' for Buckinghamshire 1995 and, as in all counties, there may be some updates available. This information can be obtained from English Nature. I have recorded the ancient woodland site on my Chesham form using the same 'address' method of a six figure OS number which works even better for any veteran trees but unfortunately there were none found in my own local area! Working with other interested people and groups the tree treasures list is growing and will be available for our town society and local council websites.

The Veteran Trees Forum (now under the umbrella of the Woodland Trust) deals with the care of these trees and has produced several publications. Many veterans and other large trees of all different species were recorded and published by the Forestry Commission in the twentieth century as 'Champion Trees'.

Alan Mitchell continued recording Champion Trees when he retired from the Forestry Commission and set up the charity called the Tree Register of The British)Isles (TROBI) to sustain the work and in 2003 this charity produced 'Champion Trees of Britain and Ireland' edited by Dr Owen Johnson and published by Whittet at £25 (hardback). It is an excellent book to have and is also available at £17.50 plus £4.95pp from the charity - make cheques payable to 'Tree Register of The British Isles' and send to TROBI, 77a Hall End, Wootton, Bedford, MK43 9HP. TROBI will, of course, be interested in any really large specimens - particularly of unusual species - that recorders find in their own areas.

I hope the sample form above and these notes will encourage people everywhere to begin recording the trees species to be seen in their own area. Whilst recording my own local trees, I am particularly keen to see the project co-ordinated for Buckinghamshire - maybe one day there will be links to tree lists in every county and town in Britain! Meanwhile I will be happy to share information with others, wherever their recording area, via this tree_treasures@yahoo.co.uk.