TREE MEASUREMENT,CHAMPIONS AND VERIFICATION

Champion status and verification

When a tree has a Point score that falls within 5% of the Champion, it is listed as a Co-Champion.

The underlying condition of acceptance of a Champion is that it is a Champion until challenged, and this challenge can only be upheld by means of an acceptable verification process. Trees grow, so a Champion is constantly under challenge.

All nominations,tree species and measurements are taken on trust.

All trees must have a single stem, or in other words, a single pith. The pith is the soft, spongy part located in the center of the stem. It is encircled by a ring of xylem , and outside that, a ring of phloem. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pith

If you need help with identifying and measuring trees, you may consider contacting a local arborist. See: www.isaac.org.au

The Register is meant to be about fun and enjoyment, and all the issues dealt with above should in no way detract from the process and status of the nominated trees.

Circumference is measured in inches at 4 ½ feet = 1.4m [to be exact - 1.37m] above ground level.

If the tree forks, record in inches the smallest circumference between 4½ feet and the ground below the lowest fork excluding dead branches and epicormic sprouts. Also record the height above the ground line where measurement was taken, in inches.

The measurement of height is the one where we have the greatest inaccuracy. Whilst there are clinometers and height meters available, which will accurately measure tree height to within about 1/2 metre, these are moderately expensive and are inaccessible to most members of the general public. If you do not have access to a height meter or clinometer, we suggest three methods for obtaining the height of a tree.

Determine the highest point of the canopy from a distance as it is often difficult to determine the highest point when you are close to the tree.

Person 1 stands near the trunk of the tree. Person 2 stands at a distance where the base and the top of the tree are visible. Person 2 holds a classroom ruler upright at arms' length and walks forwards or backwards until the entire length of their ruler covers the tree from base to top.

Still holding the ruler at arms' length, Person 2 turns their wrist right or left so that the ruler is now horizontal, with one end on the base of the tree.

Person 1 now moves away from the trunk in the direction the ruler is pointed (at a 90 degree angle) until Person 1 standing where the end of the ruler points.

Person 1 is now standing the same distance from the trunk as the tree is high.

Use a tape measure to record this distance.

[You can also use a metre rod as it makes it easier to read off a centimetre height and then spin the rod horizontally and re-grip it in a more comfortable position. The zero end of the rod is the top of the tree, and the height is the reading on the rod that lines up with the base of the tree to where Person 1 is standing.]

Hold the stick at its base vertically, making certain that:

The length of the stick above your hand equals the distance from your hand to your eye.

Staying on the same level [on the same contour] as the base of the tree, move away from the tree while sighting the trunk base above your hand. Stop when the top of the stick is level with the top of the tree. You should be looking over your hand at the base of the tree and, moving only your eyes, looking over the top of your stick at the top of your tree. Measure how far you are from the tree and that measurement is the tree's height.

Using a side of a thick cardboard box, cut out a right angle triangle with the two equal sides 30 cms long.

Hold the triangle with the right angle away from your eye, and one of the sides horizontal. Sight along the hypotenuse to the top of the tree. You will need to walk backwards and forwards a few times to sight the tree top at the tip of your triangle whilst maintaining the base horizontal.

Once you have reached the point where the tree top is sighted, you are at a Point where the height of the tree and the distance you are from the base of the trunk are the same. Measure the distance from this Point to the base of the tee. To this measurement, add the height from the ground to your eye. This will give the tree height, normally to within accuracy of 1 metre.

Two measurements of the crown spread are taken and recorded (in feet), at right angles to one another. The first is the widest crown spread, which is the greatest distance between any two points along the drip line of the tree. (The drip line is the outline on the ground of the outermost leaves of the crown.) Once the widest spread has been found, turn the axis of measurement 90 degrees and find the second crown spread. The crown spread used in the formula is the average of the two measurements taken.