Activity 1 - Tree Trouble

Should you save Treedwell's tree?

The mayor of Treedwell is keen to cut an old tree down to make room for more housing. Do you think the tree should be chopped down, or do you sympathise with the protestors?

In order to decide, you'll need to think about how important the tree is. If it  is chopped down, will it just be the tree that is affected?

How can you investigate the importance of trees?

Look for signs of wildlife
Trees are important habitats for a variety of animals. What can you see living on your tree? Are there any bird nests? Can you see any of the common invertebrates described in the guide below?

Look at the ground around the tree. Do you see any burrows or holes? What animals do you think could be living in those holes? Try searching on the internet to find out.

Discover lichens
Are there any lichens living on your tree? Many varieties grow on the bark of trees but they are often overlooked. What kinds of lichens have you discovered?

How old is your tree?
Find out a simple way to estimate the age of a tree.

Further activities

Listen to a tree
Listen to a tree by holding a microphone to the trunk and recording the sounds. When you play it back what do you hear? What do you think is making the sounds?

Urban tree survey
Join in a nationwide survey of British trees organised by the Natural History Museum.