ancient Tree Hunt - Volunteer Verifier

Volunteer Task outline

Introduction

The Woodland Trust is working in partnership with the Ancient Tree Forum and the Tree Register to encourage greater protection of ancient trees by developing an on-line interactive map of the UK’s ancient trees.

The Ancient Tree Hunt

Our main purpose is to encourage greater protection of ancient trees by involving thousands of people across the UK in the creation of a living map of ancient trees.

We aim to

•          engage with people in a simple and inspiring way to enable them to become aware of and involved in securing a future for their living heritage of ancient trees

•          build and retain a network of volunteer recorders and verifiers to help us enthuse other people and organisations to participate and to help us make sure the tree data is robust and up to date

•          work with a wide range of partner organisations across the UK to deliver the project.

A map is a vital step towards ensuring the better protection of ancient trees.

•          It  will help to strengthen and convey key messages about the importance of conserving this vital part of our heritage

•          help us to support communities in protecting their ancient trees.

Through the project we aim to work in partnership with other organisations to encourage people to recognise and then identify ancient trees in their locality. People are asked to record some key information about each tree - primarily the location, girth and species and supply us with any additional information about the tree including pictures, stories, management information. Data can be entered online, queried and viewed. The partnership sees the project as an important way of reconnecting people with nature, and encouraging them to help protect them.

What are ancient trees'

The term ‘ancient tree’ encompasses trees defined by three guiding principles:

·         trees of interest biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of their age

·         trees in the ancient stage of their life

·         trees that are old relative to others of the same species

Ancient trees are found both within woodland and as single or small groups of trees in the wider landscape. They are often found in particularly high concentrations in former Royal hunting forests, wood pastures, historic parkland, boundary banks, churchyards and wooded commons. They are also scattered across the agricultural landscape as in-field and hedgerow trees, as standards within coppice woodlands or on internal or external boundaries in other woods.

Our website www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk provides more information about the project

Summary of Task

The team therefore requires volunteer verifiers UK-wide who are able to check both paper and electronic tree records supplied by participants, enabling us to build a definitive database of ancient trees.

Key Contact

Ancient Tree Hunt Senior Verifier - tbc

Volunteers Officer – Karen Lifford

Timescale

The number of verification requests will vary according to your location.  However, as this is very much a reactionary process, as and when checking of records is needed – we anticipate that a 14 day turnaround time would be ideal to enable appropriate actions to be instigated. However, where a visit is required, and the tree is not under any immediate obvious threat, this can be extended by agreement.

Location

The project has a UK wide remit, however individual tasking will be specific to an agreed geographical planning area appropriate to the volunteer.

Equipment Required

?         Access to PC with email and internet essential.

?         Telephone

?         A tape measure

?         Maps or aerial photos of the location of the tree (these can be provided from the internet or the web site)

?         Tree identification guides for more unusual species of tree

?         A digital camera would be useful on occasions

We may be able to provide some equipment and materials, please enquire if you need assistance

Experience Required/Desired

?         Experience of using the internet, and spreadsheets.

?         Knowledge of map reading and making map grid references is required.

?         A good knowledge of tree types would be useful.

?         This task has a very strong online element. It may be possible to team up volunteers with others who are just keen to visit and verify trees but don’t have internet access or the relevant online skills. Both elements are important.

Qualities required

?         Ability to visit sites,  as requested (which may require some off-track walking), however as above we may be able to par volunteers up who have difficulties with this element.

?         The patience and ability to follow a paper or email trail

?         To assimilate and report relevant information to a standard that will enable tree records to be confirmed to a standard required to go on the ancient tree database.

?         Good verbal communication skills

Key duties

?         Attend volunteer verifier training, prior to be coming an active volunteer in this role

?         Receive email notification of record information

?         Check/confirm records – obtaining further information and tree record details from  recorders as required

?         Update the online database and activate records as required

?         Liaise with the senior verifier regularly regarding progress and any issues arising

?         To comply with the Trusts data protection and confidentiality policy

?         Visit the tree identified in the tree record and take photographs (digital) if necessary
and as advised by the Senior Verifier

?         Ensure images provided/used comply with the Trusts copyright and image permissions policy

?         To keep a record of the times you are involved with the task using the diary of activity sheet provided as this allows us to measure the impact volunteering has on the work of the organisation and is required as part of our funding agreement with HLF.

?         Identify any additional Health and Safety issues that may affect you specifically in this role and to be aware of your own safety at all times when carrying out this task.

Expenses

Costs for phone calls and postage will be reimbursed when accompanied by receipts for authorised expenditure

Travel costs appropriate to the task - at the Trusts standard mileage rate for car/cycle use or reimbursement of full public transport costs,

Note:   Internet and printing - if you are likely to incur additional costs, please discuss these with the volunteers officer prior to commencing the task

Health & Safety

This role may entail a considerable amount of lone working therefore the volunteer will need to feel comfortable working in this situation.  We would encourage, and can assist, in setting up a ‘buddy system’ for safety reasons.  Any concerns regarding safety should be discussed immediately with a member of the volunteers team or the task manager. 

NOTES

The volunteer in this role will not be required to carry out any additional tasks without prior consultation between them and the task manager.