False Dicotomy

Two Ealing GoodGymers, after enjoying cheering kids at Acton junior parkrun and drinking coffee with Hounslow friends, visited Trinity Way Tiny Forest for the October tree survey. The Earthwatch team called everyone local to the Tiny Forests to measure the height and stem diameter of various species to support tracking the forest's growth and estimating its carbon storage.

The scene Sevan and Kash encountered was quite different from previous visits. Overrun with weeds, the Tiny Forest appeared more chaotic and overgrown than during the last insect survey, making navigation and identifying the trees a challenge. Equipped with an app recommended by Earthwatch, the volunteers set out to survey tagged trees, including hollies, oaks, lime trees, beeches, birches, and privet plants. Trees neither Sevan nor Kash couldn’t identify by sight, the app consistently labelled them as "dicots," which raised suspicions about its accuracy.

Despite the challenges and the app’s quirks, the GoodGymers measured about 15 trees, though they lost count in the tangled landscape of plants. This data will aid scientists in monitoring the Tiny Forest’s growth and its potential to store carbon.

Next week, we are finishing the tree survey week with a visit to the Southall Tiny Forest - join us for an hour of citizen science!