Champion Trees of Simon's Town
This 10-step multi which covers around 2.5km and takes 60-90 minutes to do will take you to some of the best known and lesser known parts of this historical small town, passing by several of the nearly 100 Champion Trees which have been identified and listed by the Simon's Town Historical Society as worthy of conservation and are consequently protected by the City of Cape Town Heritage Department.
The trees are protected, not because they are indigenous - in fact most of them are exotic species brought into South Africa - but because they are an important part of the historical structure and environment - the 'fabric' - of the town - and because many of them are also fine specimens of their species.
'Champion' in Yorkshire means 'good' or 'great' - and it is still used by older folks - so it is surprising that the word is not included here in the BBC's Yorkshire dialect glossary - an amusing and indeed champion list of Yorkshire terms and their definitions.
Champion trees elsewhere in the world are usually the largest known examples of a given species in a particular geographical area. The US Champion Tree Program is the oldest and was created by the American Forests organization in 1940, to recognize the largest known tree of each species in the United States. They publish a searchable database - the National Register of Big Trees - every 2 years. Florida, with 111 species listed is the State with the most Champion Trees.
In UK the Tree Register (a registered charity formed in 1988 - Patron, HRH, the Prince of Wales) has details of over 150,000 trees and is 'a unique record of Notable and Ancient Trees in Britain and Ireland. The Official Champion Tree Database of native species has over 4,000 entries. It includes historical records taken from reference works going back more than 200 years. See here for a simplified list covering the main species and here for the Tree Measuring Online Information Form which shows the type of information which is submitted for a tree to be listed. A volunteer network of over 50 tree measurers updates historical records and discovers over 2,000 new trees worthy of inclusion each year.
To find the cache:
Start by finding a suitable parking spot on or near Jubilee Square @ S 34 11.589 E 18 25.991.
Step 1: go a few metres to S 34 11.599 E 18 25.986 where you will find one of a row of 11 distinctive and decorative trees lining the edge of the square which were planted by Simon’s Town school children to Commemorate George V Silver Jubilee in 1935. The tree number is 0A0
Step 2: cross the square to S 34 11.595 E 18 26.000 to find a member of the Ficus or fig family, one of 16 covering the parking area of the square with cool shade. The alphanumeric value (a=1 b=2 c=3 etc) of the 2nd letter of the species name = B
Step 3: now proceed out of the south-eastern corner of the square and down the ramp leading to the Cole Point Parking Area and head for S 34 11.591 E 18 26.038 where a wild fruit tree is growing. The number of letters in the name of the type of fruit this tree produces = C
Step 4: take the white steps up to the street cross carefully over Main Rd and then continue up the steep Wickboom Lane to S 34 11.625 E 18 26.059 where you will find an exotic 
spicy tree. The alphanumeric value of the 1st letter of the country which gives this tree its common name = D
Step 5: at the top of the lane turn right and follow Thomas Street for about 150m past the mosque and quaint old houses and then go right and down a set of white steps to S 34 11.626 E 18 25.960 where a lovely indigenous shady tree lives at the top of steps leading up from Rectory Lane. The alphanumeric value of the 4th letter of the name of the area of South Africa where this tree comes from = E
Step 6: now for a little exercise (after this it is downhill all the way) . . . retrace your (white) steps and continue across the road and upwards via the stepped continuation of Rectory Lane and the bear left up Compass Steps and a narrow alley between the houses to reach your high point - Runciman Drive. Turn left (east) here and continue to S 34 11.694 E 18 26.063 where you will find another type of Ficus or fig tree. The number of letters in its species name = F
Step 7: continue strolling along Runciman with its panoramic views over the town, harbour and bay to S 34 11.701 E 18 26.218 where you will be able to rest a little and feast your eyes whilst seated on a convenient bench adjacent to a lovely pine tree numbered 0G0.
Step 8: now on a further 160m to S 34 11.720 E 18 26.328 where another fine pine tree is growing outside #107. The alphanumeric value of the last letter of the name of the middle-eastern country where this tree originates = H
Step 9: a few metres further at S 34 11.723 E 18 26.344 is the final Champion Tree of the multi, another exotic evergreen. The sum of the 3 digits in the Tree List Number = J
The cache, a camo-taped, flip-topped tablet pot, is hidden at:
S 34 11.(H+J+1)G(C-4) E 18 26.(E-D)B(F-A)
To return to the start, continue down the path and then road, turn left at the bottom and then take Tredree Steps down to join the Main Rd back into town.
