CARBON WEEK
21 - 29 September 2024Be a science superhero this September at your local Tiny Forest
This September, we’re asking everyone to take part in Tiny Forest Carbon Week to help measure the carbon stored by trees at their local Tiny Forest.
© Fever-Tree
Why take part?
Carbon Week has benefits both for you, and for science!
By taking part in citizen science, you become a vital part of our environmental research. We use science to better understand the environmental challenges we face, and to find solutions to these issues. In particular, the data you provide will allow us to calculate the carbon stored at your Tiny Forest so we can understand changes over time and location.
The health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature are well-documented. Taking part in a Tiny Forest citizen science survey is a great opportunity to spend some mindful time outside in your local area. It’s also a brilliant way to connect with your community and spend time with family and friends in the fresh air and green space.
Step 1.
Get ready
Find your nearest, or preferred, Tiny Forest on our national map and view its profile page. Here you will find a link to the carbon survey specific for your forest.
For the survey you will need a tape measure at least 2 metres long, a ruler and your mobile phone. Instructions on how to complete the survey are provided in the downloadable Survey Guide below.
For help identifying trees try using a mobile app such as Seek by iNaturalist which can be downloaded for free.
Step 2.
Join in and have fun
Choose a day and time between Saturday 21 September and Sunday 29 September 2024 to visit your local, or preferred, Tiny Forest. Remember to bring your tape measure and ruler! You can try and coordinate with friends, make it a community event or just go on your own.
Each forest should have a sub-set of trees with numbered tags (labels) – these are our research trees! Find a research tree and follow the survey instructions to take measurements on tree species, diameter, height and mortality.
Each tree should take no more than 10 minutes to survey and you can carry out as many or as few surveys as you wish.
Step 3.
Submit your data
The easiest way to submit your data is by using the online surveys. This can be done in real-time whilst you're at the Tiny Forest if you have internet connection - so remember to bring your phone. If you’d prefer to use paper, or if phone signal is an issue, you can download and print a field sheet under our FAQs 'Can I do a paper survey and send my result by post instead of online?'. You’ll then need to go to the online survey and upload the data by Sunday 29 September 2024.
After Carbon Week, keep an eye on our Tiny Forest website for the results!
Carbon Storage Tree Measurement Survey Instructions
Carbon Week 2022 Results
Watch our Research Wrap-Up webinar for findings from Carbon Week 2022 and keep an eye on our website for further updates after this year’s Carbon Week!
You can also access our 2022 Monitoring Report showcasing all our research findings.
Thank you for taking part!
If you don’t have a Tiny Forest near you, but think it would be good for your community, you can put in a request to your local authority or get in touch with us here for more information.
FAQs
How do I access the surveys?
To access the carbon survey first go to our national map and select the forest you would like to survey. Click the icon to get to its profile page. Here you will find a link to the carbon survey for your chosen Tiny Forest.
How do I submit the results and by when?
Please submit your results through the online survey forms available on your chosen Tiny Forest’s profile page by Sunday 29 September 2023.
Can we take part as a group?
Definitely! The more, the merrier. You can complete each survey as a group, or you can each individually collect data, ideally conducting the surveys in different parts of the Tiny Forest to avoid data being duplicated.
What do I need to bring with me?
To carry out the survey, you will need a tape measure (at least 2m long), a ruler and either your phone to complete the online survey or a printed field sheet. We also suggest you bring gloves as some of the trees are prickly, sturdy footwear, a bottle of water and weather appropriate clothes.
Does it matter what time of day I do the surveys?
The carbon survey can be carried out at any time of day.
How many trees can I survey during Carbon Week?
You can survey as many trees as you like from any Tiny Forest. Make sure you survey those that have tags attached to them (labels with numbers). It usually takes no more than 10 minutes to collect data on your first tree, and then it gets easier and faster as you go.
We only need one set of measurements from each tree. So, once you compete the survey of one tagged tree, move on to the next one.
We only need one set of measurements from each tree. So, once you compete the survey of one tagged tree, move on to the next one.
Can I do a paper survey and send my result by post instead of online?
We would like to encourage everyone to submit their data using the online survey to save paper, postage and time. Nevertheless, if you find this a challenge, please do send your printed sheet with data to the address below. Do not forget to add all the details in the printed version, especially what Tiny Forest you collected the data from!
Download the Survey Data Sheet HERE and send to:
Tiny Forest Research Team
Earthwatch Europe
Mayfield House
256 Banbury Road
Oxford
OX2 7DE, UK
Download the Survey Data Sheet HERE and send to:
Tiny Forest Research Team
Earthwatch Europe
Mayfield House
256 Banbury Road
Oxford
OX2 7DE, UK
I’m a teacher, can my school get involved?
Yes, you and your students can take the classroom outdoors and get involved with Carbon Week. To support your teaching you can find free teaching resources, and if you have any questions please get in touch with our Education team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.