This technique should be used to locate free-standing features such as trees, or for measuring awkward corners.

1. Mark the tree or feature roughly on your drawing.
2. Measure to it from two known points, such as the corners of the house, and record the distances on your sketch.
3. When you later come to make a scale plan, set a pair of compasses to the first measurement.
4. Position the point on the relevant house corner, and draw a short arc.
5. Then repeat for the second measurement.
6. The point where the two arcs intersect indicates the precise location of the tree.