project homejoin indiscussionrelated projects






Participation fee $0
Expenses $0
Spend the time outdoors
Location United Kingdom
Children yes
Primary school yes
Secondary school yes
Teaching materials yes


Required Gear:

You will need to take the following with you:
- the "how to" guide
- the identification key
- a survey form for each tree you want to record
- a writing instrument

These will also be useful, if you have them:
- a tape measure or a piece of string and a ruler
- some paper or plastic bags to collect any leaves, flowers, or twigs you might need to bring back to
check identifications
- a camera, preferably digital, or a mobile phone with a camera
- a global positioning system (GPS) device – which may be your phone or camera


Urban Tree Survey


Urban Tree Survey volunteers locate, identify, and count trees in United Kingdom streets, parks, and gardens. The general public plays a critical role in the project for two important reasons:

  1. A project of this size needs many people to contribute for the data to be useful.
  2. Only you can provide information about the trees in your gardens and neighborhoods.

Scientists know a lot about trees growing in rural parts of the United Kingdom but less about the trees in urban areas. Information collected in this project will allow London's Natural History Museum and other research organizations to gain a better insight into:

  • the make-up of the United Kingdom’s urban forest and what tree species it contains
  • which urban species are native to the United Kingdom and which have been introduced from other countries
  • regional differences in what trees grow where
  • the biodiversity of the wildlife in urban areas living on or supported by trees
  • how tree populations have changed over time as a result of urban planning or garden fashions
  • how changes in the climate might affect what trees grow where and when they flower and produce fruit

The Urban Tree Survey launched during the cherry blossom season of spring 2010. In the first year, project organizers want to get as much information on the number, species, and location of urban trees as possible. In the second and third years, project coordinators will refine and expand the survey based on the information gathered in the previous years.