Selfsufficientish.com

OK, I'll have a stab at this ....

It does depend a lot of course as to what tree it is as some are fast growing and some very slow, but if you estimate a tree growth ring is about 1/8 inch thick, so twice that for the diameter (1/4 in).
Our 100 year old example tree would then be 100 x 0.25 = 25 inches in diameter.
The formula for circumference in pi * d, so 3.14 x 25 = 78.5 ins, so anything with a circumference of about 78.5 inches or 2m would be the answer.
You would need to measure the trunk at about waist height I would have thought ... sounds like fun

Mind you, I could well be wrong

How about contacting your local council? They might have records of the trees on public land. If you are going to plant the new tree on council land then you should get their permission anyway.

Another possibility is to ask the national trust, woodland trust, RSPB, NFU etc if they know of anywhere/anything suitable near you. Again, they may have records or at least an expert who can help.

Ask around if anybody knows any docile tree surgeons, they might know about trees elsewhere or put a request on the freecycle message board in your area. Someone might know someone etc. etc.

I think it's a lovely idea good luck with it.
Zoe

Another idea is that a lot of big companies have CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) budgets for charity donations, environmental activities etc. Although these budgets have been severely cut just recently, this might be a very cheap way for them to help out. If you contact some of the larger companies in your area (especially the ones with their own playing fields - BAWA springs to mind), they might have a suitable tree and area to plant a new one and they might be willing to pay for the new tree.

It won't cost anything to ask.

Zoe

Odsox calculation is about right for an oak tree. These majestic symbols of England are struggling a bit at the moment.

Now I realise you want to dash out & plant your tree RIGHT NOW but how about collecting acorns from a local tree in the Autumn of this, your centenery year? Then you'll know that they like your local climate & soil etc & it would trully be a celebration.

Why not plant 100 acorns? You could start them in pots & plant then out to their final positions around your area in a couple of years' time when they are a bit bigger. You could get your local paper to do a piece on it and people could then offer sites for the trees.

Have fun.

MW

Travelling up from Manchester a couple of weeks ago there was an article on Radio 4 about the Darwin exhibition at the Natural History Museum. (Bear with me).

There had been a competition for artists to make the new ceiling. Can't remember who won, but basically she sliced through a freshly dug-up 200 year old oak tree (Darwin 200 years etc), cut a thin slice through it and the new panelled ceiling is made up of this tree form leaves to roots.

The idea quite upset me until they interviewed the forest manager who said it needed to come out anyway as it was stopping lots of other trees growing.....

Anyway, my point to this thread is that although it's double the age you're looking at, it might be interesting to tie this in with your project somehow. It's possible they might also be able to help you with your question.

I'd really like to see it, but the journey isn't feasible unless I have another reason for going to London. Anyone seen it?

Another way of finding your tree is to look in the archives of your local paper as George V had his coronation in 1911 and it was common practice to plant a tree to commemorate the occasion (I remember being involved in planting oak trees in 1953 for the present Queen).
The saplings must have been 2 years old so ... voila, a genuine 100 year old tree.

contact old churchs that have grave yeards
thay will have very old trees and should have records

This lots seem to know their stuff:

http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/

Really like the idea of growing your own tree from seed muddywitch, local provenance is good stuff! When I was working for the Forest of Avon in Bristol a few years ago, BTCV was running a 'Tree life centre' I think they called it which was growing local trees form seed, not sure if they run the roject in other areas though?

If fact, looking back I see you're based in Bristol, you should seriously contact Forest of Avon! Can't remember the telephone number but the office is over the old stables at Ashton Court.

http://www.forestofavon.org.uk/