Veteran tree study
[28.07.2022]
Together with a Hungarian student, we have recently started to track veteran trees in a pasture and assess them according to a detailed catalogue. So far, no one can estimate how many there are, there are only quite rough figures of about 1000 trees.
An A4 sheet of paper is dedicated to each tree, on which data such as the coordinates, the Latin name and measurements such as the height and circumference must first be given. To determine the height of the tree, a distance of 20m is measured. From there, the angle to the beginning of the trunk and the angle to the highest part of the tree crown are determined with an analogue altimeter. The two numbers together give the height. After that, there are 36 fields in which, among other things, information is given about branch holes, crown or strong branch breaks, disease or fungal infestation, moss and lichen occurrence and nests that are in the tree. In addition, there are 15 further fields where, for example, information about other trees in the immediate environment is requested.
The statements we make about the trees are always made with the help of catalogues prepared for such studies. Thus, in some cases different pictures are presented and we have to decide which one comes closest to the tree under study.
In summary, it is a very detailed study, which is why we only managed a total of 8 trees on the first day. With time, however, you become much more experienced and no longer must look everything up in the catalogue, which makes the work progress much faster.
Nevertheless, we were only able to track and assess a total of 60 of the approximately 1000 trees.
