Outdoors enthusiasts are being asked to help put Perth and Kinross on the map by taking part in a giant Ancient Tree Hunt.
The Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT), in partnership with the Woodland Trust (WT), wants locals to help them find examples of Britain’s oldest and most magnificent cherry trees.
The area has seven cherry trees recorded on the Ancient Tree Hunt database, all of which have been verified by the WT’s team of expert volunteers.
Yorkshire boasted the UK’s largest wild cherry a massive 5.7m (18.8ft) in girth until 2008, when a storm snapped the tree’s crown.
The WT is now keen to find out which county has the UK’s next champion cherry tree and Perth and Kinross residents could find an undiscovered gem.
Project manager Edward Parker said, “Even if you don’t find the next champion cherry we are really keen to boost records of all types of Britain’s cherry trees on our database.
“Give the tree trunk a hug at chest height and if it’s larger than one human hug, please record it for us. Cherry is a light-loving species and easy to spot.
“The trees occur on the edges of woodland and hedgerows.
“Their brilliant white blossom from early to mid-April makes them really stand out, especially as most trees have yet to come into leaf.”
The Ancient Tree Hunt is run by the Woodland Trust in partnership with over 70 organisations. The five-year project aims to record at least 100,000 of the UK’s oldest and most notable trees by 2011.
Its web site www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk already has records of more than 63,000 ancient, veteran and notable trees.
By entering the name of a town or village and ticking the ancient trees box, visitors can see all the fantastic trees already recorded in the area.
Image used under Creative Commons license from Flickr user PhotographyGal123.