Adapted from notes sent in by legacy pledger Barbara Midgley
Skilled tree surgeons often measure tall trees by climbing to the top of the tree, dropping a rope to the ground and then measuring the rope. But it would be extremely foolish and dangerous for most of us to try and measure a tall tree in this way! Fortunately, there is a much safer and accurate way to measure trees, and you stay at ground level!
All you need is a length of wood or garden cane, about 2 metres long, a pencil or pen, a stone, a tape measure - and one more essential item - a helper! Ensure there are no obstructions of any kind on the ground in any direction, and take care to keep well away from traffic.
Now take 27 normal size steps in a straight line away from the base of the tree. Tell your helper to
hold the piece of wood upright at that spot. Take 3 more steps and mark that spot with your stone. Lie on your stomach on the ground by the stone - choose a dry day for this, and steer clear of muddy patches – unless you enjoy using the washing machine.
With your eye as close as possible to the spot you have marked with the stone, look at the top of the tree. Ask your helper to move a finger up or down the stick, until it seems to be right in line with the top of the tree. They must then mark the stick at that point with the pencil or pen. Use the tape measure to see how far the mark is up the cane.
The height of the tree will be 10 times the height of the mark on the wood. In other words, if your measurement is 1.34m the actual height of the tree will be 1.34m x 10 = 13.4m. Simple!
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