November Tree Festival – A report

15 – 28 November 2021

The month of November sees a prominent drop in temperature across India, to which tree species respond in myriad ways. The November Tree Festival (held between 15 and 28 November 2021), was an occasion to celebrate this seasonal shift, and we are excited to present this report on the event!

To make things fun, we had posed 3 tree observation challenges to SeasonWatchers –

1. 100-Not-Out! – to observe 100 trees per week of the event,
2. Spy the Species – to observe 10 different species per week of the festival, and
3. Mango mania – to observe as many mango trees as possible

77 individuals, and 107 schools and colleges from 22 states and union territories participated in the event  and contributed many wonderful observations from across the country. Citizen scientists from across India made 6238 observations on 4733 unique trees during the November Tree Festival. Of these, 3293 observations were ‘regular’ observations, while 2945 observations were ‘casual’. Like in many other challenges, Kerala contributed the most number of observations! Read on to find more about observations, challenges and challenge-winners!

L- locations of SeasonWatch observations. Darker colour indicates higher density of tree observations. R – Of the 22 states and union territories, the most number of observations came from Kerala, followed by TN, Puducherry, MP and A&N Islands. 

Observations

127 of the 138 species on the SeasonWatch list were observed during the November Tree Festival! Below are some summaries of observations from different species.

L – A blooming ‘Pride of India’ from Bangalore shared by Ranjeet Kate via Twitter. Ranjeet notes that the tree has bloomed earlier than usual, R – Owing to one of the festival challenges, Mango was the most observed species of the event, followed by Jackfruit, Tamarind, Teak and Guava. Indian Laburnum, Neem, Coconut, Devil’s tree and curry leaf tree were the next most-observed tree species.

The duration of the event saw onset of winter in north while the south experienced unusually heavy rains. This varied climate led to interesting observations from different parts of the country. For example, Jackfruit trees from 6 different states displayed a diversity of phenophases. Such comparative insights on behaviour of a species in different parts of the country perfectly highlighted the need for observing tree seasonality with SeasonWatch.

SeasonWatchers contributed observations on many species from across the country. Enchanting observations on the Himalayan cherry were by Caroline Syiem from Meghalaya. This pink bloom in the northeast was matched by that of the Silk Floss tree from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh and purple Bauhinia from Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Cherry blossom trees observed by Caroline Syiem and her students. They are nicknamed Daphisara and Zoogie!

L- Purple Bauhinia from Borgaon, Maharashtra shared by Pauravi Varde, R – Silk floss tree from Bareilly, shared by Karan Shukla (via Instagram)

Challenges results

100-not-out

SeasonWatchers had to observe 100 trees in each week of the event. We congratulate everyone who took up this challenge. Here are the top three individual observers who crossed 200 observations in two weeks.

Elavarasan M, who recorded 108 and 105 species in the 2 weeks of the event, is the winner of this challenge. The astounding 456 tree observations made by K. S Lyla and 209 tree observations made by Surendhar Boobalan are truly commendable.

Schools and students are the best SeasonWatchers. Here’s how schools have done in the 100-not-out challenge –

Infant Jesus H S Vadayar has not only observed more than 100 individuals per week of the event but also observed the greatest number of trees, making it a winner of the challenge in the school category.

Spy the species

The aim of this challenge was to observe 10 unique tree species per week of the tree festival. Here are the SeasonWatchers who achieved this feat –

Elavarasan M recorded the greatest number of species in the duration of the festival, making him the winner of this challenge as well! K. S Lyla comes a very close second with observations of 92 species.

Among the SeasonWatching schools, here are top contenders of the ‘spy the species’ challenge –

Blossom English School- Kainatty is the school champion of this challenge for completing it with the greatest number of species observed per week of the event.

Mango mania

Mango trees are most thought of during the mango season. But what do they look like in the off-seasons? This challenge was to initiate a discussion about the seasonality of mango trees by observing them. Here are the top 5 individuals who observed the most number of mango trees:

Dr. P U Priyanka wins the challenge in the ‘individual’ category. Special mention to SeasonWatchers Subhashini Krishnan and Divya for sharing mango observations from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Subhashini Krishnan shared a flowering and fruiting mango from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Here are top 5 schools with most mango tree observations –

Infant Jesus H S Vadayar school wins the mango mania challenge for having observing 748 mango trees during the 2 weeks of the festival.

From the data on mango trees collected by the participants of the November Tree Festival, here is the mango picture in India:

That’s all about the November Tree Festival 2021. We hope the results inspired you to start observing trees with us. SeasonWatch will be back with another tree quest in 2022. Stay tuned!

Participants

We thank all SeasonWatchers, especially teachers and students from across India, for their invaluable contribution and their continuing enthusiasm for tree-watching! Here is everyone who participated:

Abhishek Ghosh, Aibin Sojan, Aiswarya Public School, Akshay, Alvin T Biju, Amrita Vidyalayam-Pathanamthitta, Amrith Vidyalayam- , Ananya, Anderson HSS, ANET, Anies Dhanya Joseph, Anjana J S, Anurag Gowda B R, Arpitha Bhat, Balakrishnan, Bemannur GUPS- Paruthippulli, BEMHSS Palakkad, Bhavans Vidya Mandir-Elamakkara, Bibidishananda Basu, Bindu Bobby, Blossom English School- Kainatty, C. A. U. P. S. Mampad, Carmel Residential Senior Secondary school, Chavaradarsan, Chinmaya Vidyalaya Thrissur, Christu Jyothi Public School Rajakkad, Cintom Ali, CMS College HSS Kottayam, CMS HS PALLOM, Cotton University, CPNM GHSS Mathamangalam, Debanjan Chamlagain, Devika K Nair, Dhakeerath English Medium Higher Secondary School, Divya Ramesh, Divyaraj, Dr.P U Priyanka, Elavarasan M, FES Baihar (SHT Mandla), FES Bichhiya (SHT Mandla), G H S S Meenagadi, G H S S Panjal, G M U P School Velur Atholi, G. H. S. S Kuttamassery, G. M. U. P. S Velur, G. S. S. S. M. M. Bhalkhi, G.U.P.S, Gandhi Smarak U. P. School- Mangalam, Geetha Ramaswami, G.G.B.H.S Challapuram, GGHSS Balussery, GHS Mannancherry, GHHS attenganam, GHSS Kallachi, GHSS Kazhakkuttom, GHSS Kuttamath, GHSS Meenangadi, GHSS Panjal, GHSS Paravoor, GHSS Thonnakkal- Kudavoor, GLPS Hosdurg Theruvath, GLPS Kuthuparamba, GLPS Vayakode, GMGHSS-Chadayamangalam, GMUPS Velur, Govt Higher Secondary School, Govt V H S S Veeranakavu, Govt. U.P.School Pazhayaviduthy, Gowrika N K, GUPS Bheemanad, GUPS Thrissur, GVHSS For Girls Nadakkavu, HSS Meenagadi School, Harikrishnan C P, HCCGUP School Cherlayam Kunnamkulam, Holy Ghost BHS Muttuchira, Infant Jesus H S Vadayar, Islahiya Public School- Kottakkal, Jaimin Makwana, Jaya rakesh, Jintujit Das, JMUP School C, JNV Chennithala- Alleppey., K.S Lyla, Kangkita Das, Kariyad Nambiar’s Higher Secondary School, Kaustabh Sarma, KHMHSS Valakkulam, KHSS Kuthuparamba, Kiran B S, Kizhuthally East U P School, KPM Model School, Krishnasree (Muralimohan Maya), Kuthuparamba H S S- Thokkilangadi, L.B.S.M.H.S.S., Longjon Teron, Loyola School, M.T.S.S.K.G.U.P.School, Mahatma LP & UP school, Mahlara public school, Maitreyi, Manalisa brahma, Megha Shruti, MES Fathima Raheem Central School Kaythapoyil, MGHSS Chadayamangalam, Milind Girdhari, Minhas Yesmin, Morning Star Home Science College- Angamaly, Mount Carmel HS Kanjikuzhy Kottayam, MRMKMMHSS Edava, Murali, Murugesh, Nandhana Sunil, Neha Savla, Nidhi, NSSHSS Prakkulam, P S Baiju, P.Rajangam, Pallottihill Public School Agastianmuzhi Mukkam, Panchayat Union Middle School Thalavaipatty-Salem., Pariong Presbytery Higher Secondary School, Partha Pratim Das, Prabhakaran. PV, Prachi Thatte, Pragyan Gautam, prahlad, Pranav Datar, Prasath Selvaraj, Prerana Chandak, Prithviraj Sarnobat, PUMVHSS Pallickal, Rajagopala Rao Srinadhuni, Rey Valley International school, Roshni Ravi, Rudra Prasad Banerjee, Ruma Rulika Bhuyan, Sabnam Nath, sagar, Samuel Khakhlari, SAUPS Thirunelly, SAVUP School, Sayee Girdhari, SGUPS Vazhathope, Shree sankara Vidya peetam, Shreela Sen, Shyam Phartyal, Silver Hills H. S. S, SNHSS Thiruvallur, Sonia, Sonu Kumar, Sree Narayana Vocational Higher Secondary School Kanjikkuzhy, Sree Sankara Vidya Peetam, ST HSS Erattayar, ST Mary’s UPS Lourdes Thrissur, ST. Helens GHS Lourdepuram, St. Joseph’s AIGHSS, St. Mary’s HS Vallarpadam, St.Joseph’s Nazareth English Medium School, St. , St.Mary’s Jnanodaya English School- Maicavu, St.Marys GHS Kanjirappally, St Augustine HSS Kuttanellur, Subham Sinha, Subhashini Krishnan, Suhel Quader, Sumangala Ravindran, Surendhar Boobalan, Sushmitha, Swathi, The Darwin School – Vaikom, Thryambak Sha, TSSGUPS, UMLPS Thiruvilwamala, V V Higher Secondary School Thamarakulam, V.M.S.N.D.P.H.S.S kazhimbram school, V.P.M.S.N.D.P.H.S.S Kazhimbram, Vasudheve PB, Veeravnchery LP school, VHSS KANICHUKULANGARA, Vidyodaya, Vidyodaya School, Vipul, Vivek Gandhi, VMHSS, VVHSS THAMARAKULAM, Wadi Rahma English School Kodiyathur

Write to us

Would you like to see any other kinds of summaries of the data you have contributed? Do you have queries about the data you collected, the SeasonWatch app or trees in general? Send us an email at sw@seasonwatch.in or a WhatsApp message at +91 73495 67602. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well. You can send us queries and suggestions on these contacts too!