The National History Museum has organised a survey to map out the locations – and types – of cherry trees in the UK.

The project will run for three years and apparently now is the time to take part in the survey because cherry trees are easy to spot at this time of year due to their blossom.

The Natural History Museum is concerned that the type and variety of tree found in the UK is changing due to climate change, urban expansion and the introduction of new species to the country. They hope the results of the survey will show where cherry trees are growing and if they’ve been affected by climate change.

The website has a step-by-step guide of how to take part.

You’re asked to register cherry trees in your garden, on your street or in the local park and the website has a downloadable identification document which should enable you to tell what sort of cherry it is.

You also need to download a survey form and record various details for each tree – for example, the girth of the trunk, its height, whether the tree is flowering or bearing fruit. I think ideally they’d like photos too.

You then need to plot the tree on the museum’s interactive online map and send in the results online.

Beautiful especially at this time of year, the Natural History Museum say cherry trees in blossom are a ‘classic sign of spring’.

We have a very young cherry tree in our garden – and last year enough cherries for an eighth of a pie.  I have plotted the position of the tree on the interactive map and, armed with my downloaded Identification Key, am about to go out and discover its name!

To take part in the survey go to the Natural History Museum website.