All the trees in the park are given an identification number. Some of them still have a metal tag some 7 or 8 feet from the ground, nailed to the trunk. It will be stamped with a number such as 00357 which is the black mulberry just below the bowling green. Some of the metal tags are missing, damaged or overgrown by bark. Knowing a number is not the best way of finding a tree but if you want to play tree bingo you may have some luck. The trees are in some sort of order, known to the people who tagged them, and we are in the process of working it out.
As we log the trees, by number, we are noting their gps coordinates. This will be more usable in pin-pointing a tree and not surprisingly linking to a map. This will also link to data about species and photographs. Some of this information comes from the database of tree numbers and species, obtained from staff at the park. To begin we will have gaps in our data. It is likely that as the database develops we may be able to develop a map of the trees. At the moment the map is via a link to Google My Maps and it will be updated as often as possible.
Lastly there are the photographs themselves. These will, hopefully, be taken in various seasons and are very likely to be in recognisable parts of the park. Each photograph will have a tree’s identification number in the bottom right corner. To begin with these will be the main source of information in locating a particular tree.
As of September 2022 tree numbers are no longer being used. It was proving difficult to find trees by number and tree numbers will no longer be included on any new photographs. Instead the tree type will be included and this probably will be more user friendly anyway.
Kings Heath Park Trees 