Tree health check🚑🌳
2024
Let's get started! Type or pick the name of your school from the list below.
This is the name you would have given to your tree in the tree name competition. If your tree doesn't have a name, this will be a number. You can find the name or number for this tree on the map above, although you may need to zoom in to see it!
Look at the leaves on the tree. What can you see? Healthy trees should have many leaves, from the branches at the centre all the way to the very tips.
Now, look at the trunk and the branches. Different trees have different types of bark. It may be smooth, peeling, ridged or rough but you shouldn't see any holes or areas missing bark.
Let's talk about how wide the tree is! You can try to measure, or you can make a guess. If you put your hand around the trunk, do your hands touch together? Think about things you know that are wide or narrow. Can you think of anything like that to compare the tree's width to?
Can you guess how tall the tree is? You can try to measure, or you can make a guess. Think about things you know that are tall, like a car, a teacher, or a house. Does the tree seem as tall as any of these things?
These are the wooden poles that help support the tree and keep it upright.
Take a good look around the tree. Do you notice anything that might not be good for the tree? Things like posts, straps, or cages might accidentally hurt the tree's bark if they become wobbly. And if there are labels missing, we might not know how to best take care of the tree.
Take a look at the base of the trunk. Healthy roots will be hidden underground, so you shouldn't be able to see them. Healthy soil should lie flat around the tree, without holes or burrows. Sometimes weeds can grow too close and make it hard for the tree to get what it needs
Animals and insects love trees! They live in trees and depend on them for lots of things, like food and shelter. Just like how we need our homes, they need trees to live and thrive. Can you see any signs of wildlife on these trees?
Are there any special things you've noticed, like the colour of its leaves, the shape of its branches, or the birds that like to nest in it? We'd love to hear about it!
Please send us a photo of the tree, this is the most important element for us to assess the tree's health.