Frequently Asked Questions
Finchampstead cemetery
Contents
Surveying
How accurate is my GPS? Why is my tree on the wrong side of the road?
How do I correct an inaccurate grid reference?
When a tree is felled is it removed from the database?
Tree protection
How can I report an endangered tree?
How do we protect a tree with a Tree Protection Order?
About trees
Surveying
How accurate is my GPS? Why is my tree on the wrong side of the road in the database?
GPS units usually require a strong signal from at least four satellites to give a position reading. Even when you get the 'Ready to navigate' display, if it is only receiving a few satellites (tree cover can cause this!) your accuracy will be reduced. Under the very best conditions, there is still a margin of error in the basic measurement caused by a variety of factors including the weather and solar activity. A secondary error is also introduced when converting to an OS grid reference. This is discussed on page 5-1 of the handbook. Our target accuracy is 10m, but that can of course still put your tree on the wrong side of the road. To get a really accurate grid reference you need to use the OS maps that we send back to you. These show all features to an accuracy of about 0.5m in a town and about 1m in a rural setting. Other maps, such as Magic Maps based on the 1:10000 series can introduce other errors. Features can be up to 7m out of position and roads are depicted wider than they really are. To aid visibility side roads can often be shown more than 15m wide where the road is actually less than 10m wide. Therefore an accurate grid reference on those maps can seem to place a roadside tree in the middle of the road and a grid reference taken from the roadside can end up well inside an adjacent property.
This is why it's so important to include a good location description. If the location description places a tree on an island and the grid reference doesn't, we know the grid reference needs correcting.
Lime Avenue, Barkham
How do I correct an inaccurate grid reference?
If the grid reference is approximately correct, there is no need to go out and take it again (unless of course you have forgotten where the tree is). In fact you are unlikely to get a more accurate reading the second time. You should use the maps sent back to you to correct any inaccurate grid reference. These maps are not really suitable for printing. They are intended for screen use, so that you can zoom in and out to see details clearly. If you know where a tree ought to be on the map, you can measure (on the screen) the distance from the inaccurate position to the accurate one and calculate the true grid reference from that. The method is explained on page 5-3 of the handbook. [All recorders should have a copy of the handbook. Check with your co-ordinator if you need one.]
Some pdf readers (including free ones) have a measuring tool so that you can draw a line between the position of your tree as marked on the map and its true position, with the distance being displayed on the screen.
Hint: If you do want to print just a section of the map, zoom in to get the section you want on screen and then use 'Print Screen' (or the snippet tool if you have Windows 7, or Cmd-Shift-4 on Mac OS X).
When a tree is felled is it removed from the database?
No. We want to record any trees lost through natural or unnatural causes, as well as any other significant changes that happen to a tree since it was first recorded. We have a separate recording sheet to record such updates and a separate update field in the database. The latest known status of any tree is shown in the information box of each tree on our web map.
Tree protection
Tree #2039
Black Mulberry
Elms Road, Wokingham
How do I report an endangered tree?
Wokingham Borough Council is very keen to protect veteran and other significant trees. If you want to know if a tree is protected or are concerned about one that might be endangered, contact the tree officers on any of these numbers: 0118 974 6464, 0118 974 6767 or 0118 974 6469 or email treesandlandscape@wokingham.gov.uk. See our guide.
How do we protect a tree with a Tree Protection Order?
If you see a tree that you think should have a TPO, you just have to complete a simple form and send it into the Trees and Landscape Section of Wokingham Borough Council. They will check to see whether it qualifies and let you know the outcome. Anyone can request a TPO. You don't have to be the landowner. A form is available in pdf or MS Word format and guidance notes are also available.
About trees
Is ivy harmful to trees?
Ivy is not parasitic and does not damage a tree although a heavy growth of ivy can be an indicator that the tree is under stress due to other causes. It can act as a valuable habitat providing shelter for nesting birds, small mammals and a variety of insects. See A & E ArborEcology's Ivy - Friend or Foe? for further information.