The Consulting Arborist

Free printable

The Tree Friends Challenge

Eight small tree adventures to do with a friend, a sister, your walking group or your book club. Fresh air, good company and a reason to look up. Written by an ISA Certified Arborist and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist.

What's inside

Eight challenge cards, two to a page, plus a Big Tree Score sheet and a log to keep track of your adventures. None of them need any special skill, and most take under an hour.

  1. The Oldest Tree WalkWalk 15 minutes together and find the biggest, oldest-looking tree near you.
  2. The Big Tree ScoreMeasure a tree's waist, height and spread, and score it like the champion-tree programs do.
  3. Bark & BrewA hot drink, a short stroll and bark rubbings of four trees. Can your friends guess which is which?
  4. Nature PostMake a card from something fallen and mail it to someone you haven't seen in a while.
  5. My Childhood TreeTell each other about a tree from your childhood, and write yours down for the grandkids.
  6. The Fallen-Things TableGather fallen cones, twigs and pods and make a winter centrepiece together.
  7. Tree Birds BreakfastCount the birds visiting your tree in 15 minutes. Whose tree is busiest?
  8. Plant a PromiseChoose a tree to plant together next spring, or a young street tree to look after.
Cover page of the Tree Friends Challenge
The cover and how to play
A page with two challenge cards
Two cards to a page: cut them in half
The Big Tree Score sheet
The Big Tree Score sheet

How to play

  1. Print and cut

    Pick one card a week, or draw one from a hat.

  2. Do it together

    Invite a friend, or make it your walking group's thing this season.

  3. Share it

    Post your tree with #TreeFriendsChallenge and tag @theconsultingarborist. We share our favourites.

Keep away from trees on windy days, collect only fallen things where it's allowed, and never climb or cut a tree. If a tree looks cracked or damaged, ask a certified arborist to look at it in person.