The Big Gnosall Tree Count

About the project

Protecting what we've got

By recording mature and ancient trees, we shine a spotlight on the living giants already shaping our local ecosystem—encouraging their preservation and appreciation before they're gone.

Power in the canopy

Trees quietly clean our air, absorb CO₂, shelter wildlife, and cool our streets. Knowing where they are - and what they do - helps us understand their environmental superpowers.

Everyone can join in

Whether you're 7 or 97, a seasoned botanist or curious rambler, the Big Gnosall Tree Count is for you. Grab a tape measure, take a photo, and help map our leafy legends!

Every tree tells a story.
Help us record it.

Welcome to the Great Gnosall Tree Count — where ancient oaks, noble ash, and the occasional defiant hawthorn finally get the recognition they deserve.

This isn’t just about counting trees. It’s about honouring them — the quiet giants standing watch over footpaths, hedgerows, fields, and gardens, some for hundreds of years. They’ve seen more seasons than most of us will see Sunday dinners, and yet they’re rarely given more than a passing glance. We're here to change that.

Why are we doing this?

Because trees matter. Really matter.

Mature and ancient trees support biodiversity, form wildlife corridors, clean our air, help manage flooding, store carbon, and even cool our streets in summer. They’re the original multi-taskers — doing a hundred things for free, and asking only for space, time, and not to be chopped down for a driveway.

But here’s the thing: we don’t even know where they all are.

That’s where you come in.

How it works

We’ve built a clever little web-based app that lets you record trees in your area — even if you’re out of signal. Just spot a worthy tree, log its location, snap a photo, note the girth (the tree’s, not yours), and let the app do the rest. It’ll even estimate the tree’s age based on species and trunk size. You get to feel like a field scientist; the tree gets an ID number. Everyone wins.

Each entry is saved locally as a tiny JSON file — no need to stress about storage — and it syncs when you're back online.

If it’s on public land, measure away. If it’s on private land but visible from the street, a little educated guesswork is fine (no trespassing, please — not even for that magnificent beech behind the hedge).

Use the app (or our website) to track all your trees, see how far we've got, and... perhaps even compete with others!

What’s the goal?

Our mission is simple. We want to:

• Map and preserve important trees
• Support biodiversity and green infrastructure
• Provide real data to support environmental decisions
• Raise awareness of how vital mature trees are to the health of our communities

And just maybe, inspire a few people to look up once in a while and say, “Wow. That’s an incredible tree.”

Volunteer rules

Before you grab your rope and ruler, let’s lay down a few important ground rules. Nothing too scary—just a few common-sense dos and don’ts to keep you (and the trees) safe, respected, and properly counted. Let’s do this the right way—roots, shoots, and all!

Public Land Only (for measuring)

Only measure and examine trees located on public land—such as parks, footpaths, or verges. If a tree is on private land but visible from a public space, you may record its details visually, but do not enter private property.

Respect Privacy

Never photograph people, private gardens, or identifiable property without permission. Avoid uploading images that show house numbers, car registrations, or other personal identifiers.

Safety First

Stay safe near roads, rivers, and woodland. Wear hi-vis if needed, and always supervise children. Don’t attempt to measure trees in dangerous or awkward locations.

Be Honest with Estimates

If you can’t measure a tree, it’s OK to estimate. Just make a note in your submission so others know it's an approximation.

One Tree = One Record

If a tree has multiple trunks or is part of a group, record it as a single tree only if it shares one base. Otherwise, treat each as an individual entry.

Keep It Fun

This is about community science and celebrating nature. Enjoy the experience, learn as you go, and be part of something that could help shape future conservation efforts.

What’s next?

We’re hoping to roll this out far and wide, with help from borough councillors, local residents, schools, tree-lovers, and anyone who fancies a bit of light bark-spotting with their dog walk.

So whether you’re a data nerd, nature nut, or someone who just really loves a good oak, we’d love you to get involved.

Let’s count what counts.

Step-by-step guide for volunteers

Spot a tree — Look for mature or ancient trees in your area. Anything with character, size, or clearly old age is worth recording.
Check if it's accessible — Make sure it's on public land or visible from a public space. Don't trespass!
Get your location — Open the app and tap "Get Location" to capture GPS coordinates automatically.
Take a photo — Capture the full tree or a distinctive angle. This helps with identification and creates a visual record.
Measure the girth — Wrap a tape measure or string around the trunk at chest height (1.5m). Record in centimetres.
Select the species — Choose from the dropdown. Not sure? Make your best guess or select "Unknown".
Save & sync — Hit save. Your tree is stored locally and will sync when you're back online.
Repeat! — Keep exploring and recording. Check the leaderboard to see how you rank!

Tip: The app works offline, so you can record trees in remote areas without signal. Everything syncs automatically when you reconnect.

How to measure correctly

Girth measurement: Always measure at 1.5 metres (chest height) from the ground. Use a flexible tape measure or string (which you can measure afterwards). Wrap it around the widest part of the trunk at that height. If the tree has multiple trunks, measure the largest one only.

Can't reach? If a tree is behind a fence or awkward to measure, make an educated visual estimate. Add a note in your submission mentioning it's an estimate—honesty helps!

Identifying species

Don't panic if you're not a botanist! Common British trees include:

Oak — Lobed leaves, acorns, deeply furrowed bark
Ash — Compound leaves (7-13 leaflets), smooth grey bark when young
Beech — Smooth grey bark, oval pointed leaves, copper in autumn
Sycamore — Large 5-lobed leaves, helicopter seeds, flaky bark
Yew — Dark needles, red berries (poisonous!), often in churchyards

Use tree identification apps like "PlantNet" or "Seek" if you're unsure. If you still can't tell, select "Unknown" and add a description in the notes.

Offline functionality

The app is built to work completely offline. All your tree records are saved locally on your device as soon as you hit "Save". When you return to a signal, the app automatically syncs your data to our central database—no extra steps needed.

You can record dozens of trees in the middle of nowhere, and they'll all upload seamlessly when you're back in range. Check the sync status in your dashboard to see what's pending.

Land access rules

Public land is fine: Parks, footpaths, bridleways, village greens, road verges, and common land are all fair game.

Private land needs permission: If a tree is on private property, ask the owner before entering. Alternatively, record details from a public vantage point (street, footpath) and note it as a visual estimate.

When in doubt, stay out: It's not worth trespassing. There are plenty of public trees to keep you busy!