Latest News

ARCHIVE:  2005        2006        2007        2008        2009        2010        2011        2012        2013        2014        2015        2016        2017        2018        2019        2020        

What`s new - December 2008

New sites recorded:
New Forest (Perrywood Ironshill Inclosure) – Derek Wilson
Loch Lomond (Mill of Ross) – Matt Drew;

New photos added:
Silverton – Patrick Gooding and Tim Hills
Ashbrittle, Culmstock, Tiverton (St Peter) – Barry Saich;

Lost yews recorded at:
Mill Hill

During 2008 a total of eighty seven new sites have been added to the Gazetteer webpage, with new photos added at sixty–four locations. On–going research has uncovered a further twenty–three lost yew sites.
During the year 9 new articles were added and to date 180 individuals have contributed information, articles or photos to the website.;

Several new articles are ready for inclusion in January 2009:
Monketon by Cliff Hansford
Even in 1798 the church at Monketon in Kent was ‘long dilapidated’, but ‘two very large yew–trees’ still marked the plot where the church once stood. More than 200 years after Hasted’s record, Cliff Hansford returned to see whether the old yews had survived.;

Yorkshire Yews by Edwin Pretty
Edwin continues to find and record old yews in this vast county.

Yew trees in churchyards in East Surrey Jane McLauchlin has allowed us to reproduce her study of yews in this area

3 articles by Toby Hindson
For many years Toby has been studying the growth rates of yews. Though much of his work is ongoing he has prepared 3 articles for the website:
The Growth rate of Taxus Baccata: An empirically Generated Growth Curve
The Yews of Alice Holt
Brief studies of Felled Yews;

It is intended to create a new webpage dedicated to age related issues. As well as Toby’s 3 articles, it will include Tree–ring analysis of a branch from the Ankerwyke Yew by Andy Moir, Dating Yews by Allen Meredith and Ageing the Yew – no core, no curve by Fergus Kinmonth.

December 2008

What`s New - November 2008

New sites recorded in Ireland:
Ardsallagh House, Navan: Ardtully Castle: Ballydarton House: Castlecomer House: Furness: Hilton Park, Scotshouse: Leslie Hill,Ballymoney: Shelton Abbey: Silver Springs Hotel, Tivoli

New sites also recorded at:
Bodcott Farm: Elcho Castle: Glasbury: Rosedoe House
Hazlewood Castle: Roche Abbey – Edwin Pretty
Michaelston–super–Ely – Owen Johnson
Old Pentland Cemetery – Christine Ireland

New historic photos added:
Alveston: Bettws Newydd: Broich: Gwydir castle: Sullington: Warblington

New photos added at:
Crowhurst, Surrey – Dave Kenny
Alltmawr: Awre – Tim Hills

New lost yew sites:
Dunscore: Hasbury: Little Chart: Liverpool – Yew Tree House: Raploch

Improved images at:
Albury Estate: Aberglasney: Aldingbourne: Aldworth: Ardingly: Aston Pipe: Sprotborough – Pot Ridings Wood: Thornton Steward

November 2008

What`s New - October 2008

2 New articles have been added:
The Iffley Yew by Allen Meredith appears on the Churchyard Yew page. Meredith supplements his own thoughts and observations with accounts from as early as 1785.
The yew collection at Elvaston Castle appears on the Articles page. It is described by the Friends of Elvaston Castle as “an absolute gem of a place” that should not be wrecked “for a game of golf and a quick profit”.

A new site has been added at Stoke–sub Hamdon – Barry Saich

New photos have been added of the Crowhurst Yew in Surrey – Richard Cooper

Photographs have been improved at 125 locations, including the following:
Abbeycwmhir; Abergwili; Aberyscir; Acton Burnell (Yew Tree Piece); Ashampstead Common; Ashill; Asthall (Leigh); Burghill; Cantref: Capel–y–ffin; Chilcompton; Chilham; Church Preen; Cradley; Cusop; Cwmcarvan; Easthope; Elworthy; Enmore; Fareham; Farningham; Farringdon; Ffynnon Bedr; Goetre; Hanchurch; Harewood Forest; Heyop; Himley Hall; Huntley; Iwade; Kentchurch; Kirk Bramwith; Langford; Llanarmon Mynydd–Mawr; Llanarth; Llanbadarn Fynydd; Llangoedmor; Llangower; Llanrhidian; Llanvapley; Llanwenarth Citra; Llanyre; Llywel; Loughton; Lower Machen; Marston Bigot; Merthyr Cynog; Minsterworth; Molash; Much Birch; Munsley; Nantmel; Nether Alderley; Odcombe; Old Church Hotel; Pantybeudy; Penallt; Pennant Melangell; Pen–y–clawdd: Peper Harow; Priors Dean; Privett; Ratby; Richards Castle; Ripple; Rycote; Selattyn; South Petherton; St Mary Bourne; Stanford Bishop; Stansted; Staverton; Stedham; Stonor; Stoodleigh; Tangley; Tarrant Rushton; Thryft House Farm; Thurnham; Todenham; Uplyme; Uppington; Wellington; West Chinnock; West Liss; Westbury–Sub–Mendip; Whitton; Woldingham; Wormsley; Yarkhill; Yarpole; Yazor; Ystradfellte

October 2008

What`s New - September 2008

New sites have been added as follows:
Portchester – Ian Robert Brown
Blarney Castle – Cliff Hansford
Glendalough, Murthly Castle – Tim Hills
Mariners Hill, Westerham – Owen Johnson
Penllergaer – Ros Jones
Brightwell Baldwin – Dave Kenny

New photos have been added at:
Beeley –Tim Hills and Edwin Pretty
Wrekin – Ian Robert Brown

New computer software is enabling the provision of better quality images. Many will be replaced during the coming months. Improved images have so far bveen added at the following sites:
Abbots Leigh: Acton Beauchamp: Amberley: Alvechurch: Buttington: Capel, Surrey: Carrog: Castle Frome: Cathedine: Caynham: Cliffe Pypard: Cofton Hackett: Cold Aston: Etchingham: Eyton: Godmersham: Hambledon, Hants: Hanmer: Hentland: Heythrop: Horton: Hound: Hurstbourne Priors: Ilston: Kingstone: Langley: Lea: Leaveland: Lismore Castle: Little Hereford: Llandre: Llanfihangel Crucorney: Llangattock–Vibon–Avel

September 2008

What`s New - August 2008

Largest yew forest in Europe to be protected
It is reported that the largest yew forest in Europe is, after years of campaigning, finally to be protected. The wood, found in the Sierra de Sueve in Asturias, northern Spain, covers 80 hectares and is said to be “home to a remarkable 8,000 yew trees, many of which are more than 1000 years old”. It is also recorded that there is a “common presence of ancient yews growing in churchyards in Galicia and Asturias”.
See http://www.iberianature.com/spainblog/tag/largest-yew-forest-in-europe/

New siteshave been added as follows:
Edgcote – Geoff Garlick
Shillingstone – Tim Hills
Clonfert, Huntingdon Castle, Portumna, Springhill House – 4 new sites in Ireland
Howell Wood – Edwin Pretty

New photos have been added at:
Llanfair Clydogau, Llanfihangel-ar-arth, Llanwrda, Strata Florida – Geoff Garlick
Carno – Tim Hills
Mugginton
Bishopstoke – Hugh Milner
Fountains Abbey – Edwin Pretty
Engravings of yews at Cyffylliog (1872) and Stowe, Shropshire (1899)

August 2008

What`s New - July 2008

5 new articles
Churchyard yews in the Bourne area by Gwyneth Fookes, in which she revisits yew sites surveyed in 1880, comparing girths of the surviving trees and discovering a surprisingly large number that have not. It can be found on both the Articles and the Churchyard Yews page
Arthur O.Chater is writing a Flora of Cardiganshire and has allowed us to publish a draft of his work to date relating to the old yew trees to be found in this area of west Wales.
Andy Moffat has been noting yews during his Scottish travels. Yew trees in the Scottish Highlands is a collection of his notes.
Ode to an Old Soul, a poem by charlotte Smith, addresses a yew at New Milton in Hampshire.
The Fareham Yew by Malcolm Low is recorded on the Churchyard Yews page.

New siteshave been added as follows:
Hafod (Eglwys Newydd), Llanbadarn Fawr, nr Aberystwyth, Llanerchaeron (Llanaeron) – Arthur Chater/Geoff Garlick
Hartshorne, Old Oswestry, Trealy – Tim Hills
Warren Bank – Dave Kenny
Gayton – Jane Rock
Lismore Castle – Doney Sanderson

New photos have been added at:
Traquair – David Alderman
Nevern – Lin Carter
Buttington, Trelystan – Russell Cleaver
Little Hadham – Paul Hewitt
Arborfield – Dave Kenny
Caerhun – John Shakespear
Wilmington – an 1850 engraving – Allen Meredith

Lost yews have been added at Chillenden, Clifford, Tankersley Park, Winklebury

July 2008

What`s New - June 2008

HIGHGROVE
The Ancient Yew Group was represented at a reception hosted by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales at Highgrove on 23rd May. The reception was held in honour of The Tree Register and The Woodland Trust in support of their work on behalf of ancient trees, including the joint WT/TROBI project, The Ancient Tree Hunt.

Tim Hills presented Prince Charles with a signed copy of Fred Hageneder’s Yew: A History and also a draft copy of The Ancient Yews of Gloucesteshire, a compilation of his own collection of photographs, historical records and information featuring 18 important churchyard sites, three ancient woodland yews and seven historic sites.

New siteshave been added as follows:
Stonor – Dave Kenny
Trowbridge – Brendan Maher

New photos have been added:
Aldworth, Sandhurst, Welford – Dave Kenny
Llanrhychwyn – John Shakespear
Boughton-under-Blean, Challock – Ian Robert Brown

June 2008

What`s New - May 2008

2 new articles

Two major new articles have been added this month.
The ancient yews of Cranborne Chaseby Peter Andrews is the result of extensive data collection. Travelling from one location to another on foot has led Peter along paths that would normally be by-passed. This has enabled him to discover many previously unrecorded yews and has added considerably to our knowledge of this yew rich ancient landscape. We need to be aware that none of these trees are legally protected.
Lin Carter publishes the results of her survey of Berkshire’s churchyard yews, in which she considers the status of Berkshire’s ancient yews among their younger counterparts.

New siteshave been added as follows:
Holme Lacy House, where the extravagant Elephant Hedge has been carved from old yews: Upper Breinton - a large hedgerow yew: Allerton Mauleverer – Edwin Pretty
Welford – Lin Carter
Warren Bank – Dave Kenny
Gayton – Jane Rock

New photos have been added:
Ashampstead, Kintbury, Portbury – Lin Carter
Porlock and Woldingham – Tim Hills
Britwell Salome and Iffley – Dave Kenny

Lost yews have been added at Cerne Abbas and Ibberton in Dorset – Mark Hinsley

May 2008

What`s New - April 2008

New sites have been visited and recorded at:
Gwydir Castle; Llanfairfechan; Llanrhychwyn; Llanrug – Tim Hills
Prestbury – Dean Loftus
Withyham – Five Hundred Acre Wood; Wych Cross – Southbank Wood – Steve Young

New photos have been added at:
Combe Raleigh – John Frampton

A Lost Yew is recorded at Maentwrog, where yet another of Wales’s ancient churchyard yews has been felled. When I visited in 1998 I documented 3 yews. The largest girthed was a three trunked specimen growing south of the church. At the time of the visit I observed that one of the trunks was dead, and for safety’s sake would probably need to be removed at some stage. The remaining two trunks were in excellent condition and I am yet to establish why it was decided to fell such an old tree.

April 2008

What`s New - March 2008

New sites have recorded at:
Whitwell – Rob Burrows
Throwley – Cliff Hansford/T.Hills
Adderley, Chapel Chorlton, Eyton, Llansantffraed, Sedbergh –Tim Hills
Cooling – Owen Johnson
Midgham – Dave Kenny
Sprotborough Hall, Sprotborough–Pot Ridings Wood, Thryft House Farm – Edwin Pretty

New photo has been added at Solihull

Lost Yews are recorded at Cawthorne – We are investigating the reason for the felling of healthy yews in Cawthorne churchyard, Barnsley.
We have also monitoring what is happening at Firsdown, near Salisbury, where a site of 20.76 Ha has been identified for possible housing development. The previous and current use of the site is clearly marked as Agricultural – arable, while it is clear that approximately 5Ha are woodland, including at least 2 stands of yew, one containing 100+ yews, the other approximately 60.

ANCIENT YEW GROUP meeting

A meeting to plan the future direction of the Ancient Yew Group was held at Westonbirt Arboretum on 16th March 2008. A full version of our discussions will be published on the web site in April.

A series of slide talks was given by Fred Hageneder to publicise his book Yew:A History. These took place at St.Fagan’s National History Museam, Westonbirt Great Oak Hall, Wakehurst Place, Ridley Hall and the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Arboretum. The talks were supported by the Friends of the Trees, Ancient Yew Group, Tree Register of the British Isles, Conservation Foundation, National Museum of Wales, Sutton Publishing and Summerfield Books.

March 2008

What`s New - February 2008

New sites have been recorded at:

Roscrea, Shugborough – David Alderman
Woolbury Hill Fort – Rob Burrows
Lissan House – Declan Devlin/Peter Archdale
Woodston – Jon Parsons
Stoke Park Wood – Lyndsey Rowe
Irthing Gorge

New photos have been added at:
Hedsor – Graham Bradshaw
Llanwrthwl – Geoff Garlick and Russell Cleaver
Llanfeugan, Llansantffraed–in–Elvel – Russell Cleaver
Creech St. Michael – James E.Cole and Tim Hills
Broadwindsor – Mark Hinsley
Buchanan Castle – Iona Hyde
Ufton Nervet – Dave Kenny
Kentchurch Deer Park, Llanbadarn Fawr – John Scudamore

Lost Yews are recorded at:
Catherington – Robert Burrows
Cruxton Castle – Tim Hills
Church Knowle, Fontmell Magna, Litton Cheney, Manston – Mark Hinsley

February 2008

What`s New - January 2008

RAIDERS of the LOST BARK is the title given to an article in the Daily Telegraph on 29th December 2007. Written by James Douglas, it reports on the group fighting save Britain’s venerable yew trees-a heritage for the world.
We are seeking permission to reproduce the full article on our web site, but for the time being it can be accessed at Telegraph on-line, by typing Raiders of the lost bark into the Search box.

New sites have been visited and recorded at:
Solihull – John Banister
Llangiwg – Robert Burrows
Gortinure – Declan Devlin
Haselor, Hatton, Newnham Paddox Art Park, Shuckburgh Hall, Upton House, Wixford - Steven Falk
Roecliffe – Den Gregson
Fonthill Estate – Tim Hills
Kirk Bramwith – Colin Howes
Mobberley – Dean Loftus
Maxey – Jon Parsons
Siddington – Peter Turner
Ockham – Peter Young

New photos have been added at:
Astbury, Capel (Kent), Church Preen, Hope Bagot, Hurstbourne Priors, Hambledon (Surrey), Kenn, Loose, Long Sutton, Woolbeding – Ian Robert Brown

Lost Yews are recorded at:
Whittington Rectory – Edward Parry
Denton, East Stout, West Stour – Tim Hills
Compton Abbas – Mark Hinsley
Northenden – Dean Loftus

January 2008