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What`s New - January 2012

LOSS and DAMAGE
My year began with visits to two sites where old yews have been felled by wintry weather. At Llanfoist, near Abergavenny, the ancient yew was felled when gale force winds swept through south Wales on 5th January. It is likely that the yew was weakened by fire damage that occurred some time before my first visit in 1998. Poor leaf growth on its damaged upper branches was compensated for with the development of new branches on its lower bole. Fortunately one of these was below the point at which the tree snapped, and in it lies the expectation that a new tree will grow from the old.         
 
At Aberyscir, near Brecon, one of its two veterans collapsed under the weight of a winter snowstorm in 2007/8. It is possible that the weight of ivy growing high into its crown was a contributory factor. A large stump with several points of new growth remains and the tree should recover.
 
There is no excuse however for the felling of a living ancient yew at the end of 2011. Details cannot be released while the case is being assessed by the local authority legal department. A full account will appear in due course.
 
New articles
The Bedhampton Yews – Hugh Milner and Peter Norton
Southleigh Forest – Peter Norton and Hugh Milner
Hut Wood – Peter Norton
The Yews of Ranscombe Farm – Cliff Hansford
A survey in 3 parts:  part 1 : part 2: part 3  
 
New sites
Carhampton: Dodington: Durleigh – Tim Hills
Woolley, Wakefield – Chris Jones
Mylor – Tim Kellett
Nap Wood: Wakehurst Place-The Mansion - Peter Norton
 
New photos
Craswall Priory: Defynnog: Dinefwr Park: Merthyr Cynog – Jan Fry
Defynnog: Llanelly: Llanfeugan: Llangattock Lingoed: Llangattock-vibon-Avel: Llantilio Pertholey: Timberscombe: Withycombe: Wootton Courtenay – Tim Hills
Bedhampton: Bursledon: Hound: Stedham: Woolbeding – Peter Norton
Stoke St Mary: Swindon-Richard Jefferies Garden
 
New poem

January 2012

How you can support this web site

Contribute to the web site. Send us latest information or archive material about old yews you have visited.

If you have seen or written a yew related item that might be of interest we could consider publication on our Articles page. All work that appears on this web site is protected as far as possible from misuse, but contributors need to be aware that there is always a small risk of submitted work appearing elsewhere. Should this arise we would not be able to provide funds to seek legal redress but would of course give our written support.

Report yews that do not appear in the Gazetteer, whether in churchyard, woodland, hedgerow, parkland or private estate. There is always a chance that you have discovered a significant undocumented ancient yew.

Many of the yews documented in the gazetteer have not been seen for several years. If you visit a site and would like to send us brief details of the tree\'s appearance or state of health, your up to date observations can be added to our data base and would appear in the Gazetteer.

Please let us know if you discover inaccuracies in any part of the web site.

If you live near to a documented yew site you might consider nominating yourself to send us a brief report on a regular basis (every 6 months or so). We would like eventually to have a named person to report on every ancient, veteran and significant yew site.

You can also support this web site financially by joining The Tree Register or donating on-line in their shop. Quote specifically that your donation or Membership is for the Ancient Yew Group web site. Money raised will help cover the web site costs and be used to pursue ‘good practice’ projects. Donate Here