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Achievement of the Ancient Yew Group and its web site in the first 6 months - 1st July to 31st December 2005

8 NEW ARTICLES

  • New researchers and photographers now have a place to share their findings with a wider audience. The following have made significant contributions: Peter Andrews, Russell Cleaver, Geoff Garlick, Cliff Hansford, Tony Hackett.
  • Alongside the 5 founder members of the Ancient Yew Group a Contributory Membership can now be offered to those who are making a significant contribution to the documentation of our ancient yew heritage. Peter, Russell, Geoff, Cliff and Tony will be invited to become our first Contributory Members.
  • A major article about the churchyard yew in Tree News.

  • Consultation by the media for BBC radio 4 Making History and Open Country series. Participation in ITV Wales programme Great Welsh Roads to be shown in March 2006.

  • On-going improvements to the web site content and layout.

  • Planning the 2006 visit of approximately 40 members of Eibenfreund (Friends of the Yew)and the German Dendrological Society. They will spend 9 days visiting some of the finest ancient yew sites in England and Wales.

  • Amendment of the Gazetteer which will soon allow multiple pictures of sites and trees. We hope to build a pictorial history of each old yew. Philip Sherwood’s article on the Harlington Yew is an example of the variety of images we will be seeking.

  • Providing support and guidance in campaigns to protect threatened yews. Beltingham and South Brewham are two examples in England, while Angletot at Fontagne sur Mer in Normandy has also been supported.

  • Additions to the list of known lost yews.

  • The discovery of many more undocumented yews.

31st December 2005

New in November 2005

98 new photographs from Geoff Garlick

Abenhall(2): Aberedw(2): Ashford Carbonell(3): Bacton(2): Battle: Bockleton(2): Bredwardine(2): Broadwell: Bulley: Burghill(2): Caerwent(2): Cold Aston(2): Coln Rogers: Colva(3): Cwmcarvan: Doveridge: Fulbrook: Garth Brengy: Goetre: Hawling(2): Helmdon: Hewelsfield: Heythrop: Hope Bagot: Huntley: Kington: Knighton-on-Teme: Kyre Park(2): Llanarth(2): Llanbadarn-y-garreg: Llanddewi Rhydderch: Llandefalle: Llandegveth: Llandeilo Graban(2): Llandelio'r Fan: Llanfair Discoed: Llanfaredd(2): Llanfihangel-nant-melan (2): Llanfoist(2): Llanfrechfa(2): Llangasty Talyllyn: Llangattock(2): Llangattock-Vibon-Avel(2): Llanllowell(2): Llansoy: Llantarnam(2): Llanvihangel Pontymoel: Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern(2): Llowes: Mamhilad: Minsterworth(2): Monnington on Wye(2): Much Marcle: Munsley: Panteg(2): Penallt: Penpergwm: Peterchurch: Saintbury(2): Sevenhampton: South Littleton(2): Talgarth: Thorpe Mandeville: Ullingswick: Upper Chapel(Dyffryn Honddu)(2): Weston-under-Penyard: Yarkhill

Copse and hedgerow yews found by Peter Andrews

New entries and photographs have been provided by Peter Andrews for trees found in the Cranbourne and Damerham area on the Hampshire and Dorset border. Grid references are given where the yews are found on public footpaths, but withheld for those on private land. There are undoubtedly many more old yews to be located in this area.

Derbyshire Yews - An article by Tim Hills on "Discovering yew sites in Derbyshire".

November 2005

New in October 2005

5 new articles added.

The following by Ancient Yew Group member Paul Greenwood:

  • In Defence of Younger Yews
  • William Wallace`s Yew: More than it appears to be?

Non-member Allen Meredith has submitted three articles, two are found on the Articles page, while the third on the Looking After Ancient Yew page appears courtesy of Chetan and Brueton, authors of The Sacred Yew.

Research Paper - Iona: Origins of a Druid Island
The articles so far appearing on the web site give an indication of the scope of the subject. Inclusion does not imply that all views expressed are necessarily endorsed by the Ancient Yew Group.

New photographs have been added at the following sites:
Tim Hills: Aberbranddu, Bishopstoke, Blakeneyhill Wood, Hollycombe, Little Cowarne, Llanddewi Fach (Cwm), Llanfair Kilgeddin, Llangynog Pwll-du, Llanwrin, Machynlleth, Myddfai, Penegoes, Ystradffin
Peter Andrews:Acton Scott, Ankerwyke, Clun, Keffold's Farm, Longleat, Marston Bigot, Rycote, Shipton Bellinger, Ston Easton, Tisbury, Woolland
Russell Cleaver:Old Alresford

New sites visited this month (p) denotes photograph
Ault Hucknall (p), Carsington, Chatsworth (p), Dovedale (p), Edlaston (p), Ellastone (p), Ellastone School House ,(p) Hales Hall Pool, Hermit's Cave,Cratcliffe Tor (p), Osmaston, Pleasley, Shining Cliff Wood (p), Smalley (p), Smisby (p), South Wingfield, Stoke Prior, Taxal (p), Weston-on-Trent, Whitnash

First Irish entries
The following were visited by Tim Hills: Muckross Friary, Reenadinna Yew Wood, Garryland Wood (p), Mulloch Mor (p), Glen of Clab (p)
Information was provided by the Tree Register for Bunclody, Crom Castle and Maynooth

New information has been provided by Russell Cleaver at Abbeycwmhir, Cefnllys, Chilton Candover, Old Alresford, Privett, Ropley and Strata Florida.

More lost yews
6 further lost yew sites are reported. At Duffield and Shining Cliff Wood the remains of ancient yews can still be found. At Haddon Hall, Pleasley, South Wingfield and Weston-on-Trent we only know of the one time existence of old yews thanks to recorders who thought it worth while keeping such records.

  • Dating Yews
  • Caring for Yews

October 2005

New in September 2005

The following new sites were visited by Tim Hills in August/September 2005:
Aberbranddu, Blakeneyhill Wood North, Cenarth, Llangynog Pwll-du, Myddfai, Silian, Ystrad Aeron, Ystradffin.
New photographs were added at Breamore, Hampshire: Cholsey, Oxfordshire: Stedham, Sussex.
Mark Haynes submitted 2 photographs of the Kentmere yew.
Russell Cleaver visited new sites in Hampshire and provided information: Dumper's Copse, Fareham, Ower, Owslewbury and Swarranton

Isabelle Borsus allowed us to reproduce her drawings of yews at Crowhurst, Surrey, Waverley Abbey, Tandridge and Newlands Corner (2nd grove). These drawings illustrate Luc Baba’s 6th novel, which is written in French, its title “If” meaning Yew. Its ISBN is 2-88253-285-7.

September 2005

New in July and August 2005

Aylesford, Kent: Entry for this yew of known planting date now includes 2 photographs taken by Cliff Hansford.
Benington, Hertfordshire: Photograph and latest information provided by Paul Phillips.
Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent: A new site – information supplied by Cliff Hansford.
Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire: A new site visited by Tim Hills.
Nettleden, Hertfordshire: Photo supplied by Robert Bevan–Jones.
Priston, Somerset: Photograph and latest information provided by Richard Bottle.
West Kington, Wiltshire: A new site – information provided by Mike King, visited by Tim Hills.
Westhide, Herefordshire: A new site visited by Tim Hills.
Weston Beggard, Herefordshire: A new site with a yew of Known Planting Date, visited by Tim Hills.
Wilmington, Kent: A new site with a yew of Known Planting Date recorded by Penelope Stanford.
Wrekin, Shropshire: A new site – information and photo supplied by Tony Hackett.

Photographs from 9 Scottish Yew sites – Andy McGeeney

Craigends, Renfrewshire
Dirleton Castle, East Lothian
Dryburgh Abbey, Scottish Borders
Great Fraser Yew, Highland
Robert Bruce’s Yew, Argyll and Bute
Ross Priory, West Dunbartonshire
Rossdhu House, Argyll and Bute
Traquair House, Scottish Borders
Whittinghame, East Lothian
In all 35 new photos were added to the 500 available when the web site was launched.

July and August 2005