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What`s New - December 2009 New sites New photos New book December 2009 |
What`s New - November 2009 New Articles Wiltshire Yews – An Inventory of Churchyard Yews along the Ebble Valley by Peter Norton. In 1897 John Lowe’s The Yew Trees of Great Britian and Ireland was published. On the Articles webpage Tim Hills compares photos of the yews taken in the latter years of the 19th century and the first decade of the 21st. New photos New sites Lost Yews November 2009 |
What`s New - October 2009 New Article on the Churchyard Yews webpage Wiltshire Yews – An Inventory of Churchyard Yews along the Deverill and Wylye Valleys by Peter Norton. New photos New sites Lost Yews October 2009 |
What`s New - September 2009 New Articles on the Churchyard Yews webpage The Culmstock Yew by Margaret Bromwich is about an unusual yew that has grown out of the church tower for at least two and a half centuries. It inspired a poem c1900 which appeared in a local newspaper. We have been able to obtain a copy of the whole poem. The Crowhurst (Surrey) Yew A compilation of records from 1630 to the present day, including a report from Jeroen Pater. New photos New sites Lost Yews September 2009 |
What`s New - August 2009 New photos New sites Lost Yews The British Standard 5837:2005: (trees in relation to construction – recommendations) Caversham Court Gardens reopened to the public on 7th August 2009. The entry on our website expressed concern that the lottery funded work should safeguard the future of a fine old layering yew as well as the ancient yew hedge. It is hoped that this is the case. August 2009 |
What`s New - July 2009 New articles New photos New sites Lost Yews July 2009 |
What`s New - June 2009 New sites recorded New photos added Historic Photos June 2009 |
What`s New - May 2009 New sites recorded: New photos added: Lost yews May 2009 |
Felling of yews at Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere-Ken Dakin I am deeply saddened to report the wanton destruction of five yew trees at Cremorne gardens, Ellesmere jointly by Shropshire County Council and Ellesmere Town Council in the name of ‘conservation’. The yew trees were part of an avenue of around 20 yew trees forming the perimeter of the ancient lake or ‘mere’ formed 11,000 years ago when the ice retreated northwards from Shropshire. The Council received a £2.1 million Lottery funded grant to ‘improve’ the former Cremorne Gardens and restaurant. Part of the grant money was spent on ‘rediscovering’ ‘ancient footpaths’ in an existing arboretum and in the Park itself to improve the view of the Mere. But was it really necessary to fell so many mature trees. What is of particular concern is the ability of a local authority to obtain in advance a ‘carte blanche’ planning consent to fell [non-specified] ‘trees’ in the Park. On this basis one wonders if any tree is safe. An existing children’s playground was to be extended by converting an old ‘tennis court’ to a new adventure playground. It was argued by the Council(s) that destroying the 5 yew trees provided ‘access’ and ‘line of sight’ with the existing playground (despite there already being 10 feet gaps between the existing tree trunks and despite the £2 million pricetag, the adventure playground is still not yet even begun - but the destruction of the elderly trees is already self-evident. A Shropshire Councillor, when pressed on the subject by a Shropshire Star reporter, glibly stated that “there are still 15 left”! Local residents are definitely ‘not amused’ - judging by the response I have received from people on the street - but my ‘one man campaign’ is in need of some expert help in combating this ‘institutional vandalism’ - to preserve the rest of what can still become a splendid grove of 15 ancient Yews in around 500 years or so! It is a sad reflection on life that a Council - elected for just a few years - can inflict such devastating damage on trees with such longevity. We need much better protection for trees such as these and it is wholly wrong that short-lived Councils can give themselves the legal right to be be judge, jury and executioner of our ancient Heritage by writing the rules for themselves. Paul Greenwood rightly points out in his excellent article [http://www.ancient-yew.org/youngeryews.shtml] that these yew trees are the foundations of our future much more ancient trees. Ken Dakin - April 2009 2009 |
What`s New - April 2009 3 new articles are added this month: New photos New sites New historic image Lost yew April 2009 |
What`s New - March 2009 New sites recorded: New photos added: Historic images have been found of yews at Peper Harow and Goetre. New articles prepared for inclusion next month are “The Upminster Yew Avenues” by Dave Martin and “The Gresford Yews”, which features work by Reg Wheeler. March 2009 |
What`s New - February 2009 Two more felled yews A yew growing close to a house formerly lived in by the naturalist, Richard Jefferies (1848–1887), was felled by Swindon Council, because it was thought to be damaging the building. A sudden movement of the house in 2007 was blamed on the yew, although others think that a blocked drain was the cause. A spokesman for Swindon Council said “We took the decision to fell this yew tree with huge reluctance, but the unavoidable fact is that its roots were damaging a listed, historic building and there was no other option." A report from John Band of some fire or smoke damage to the ancient yew at Chevening (a yew in the 600–1000+ age range)is more alarming, though photographs suggest that it has not come to any harm. It is difficult to know what to do to further protect hollow specimens growing in remote locations yet so close to public footpaths. Other yews known to have been damaged by smoke or fire are as follows (*not churchyard): In most instances the trees have, or are recovering. In a few cases, such as at Llangwm St Jeromes and Shining Cliff Wood,the tree was destroyed by the fire. February 2009 |
What`s New - January 2009 New Webpage (1) The Growth rate of Taxus Baccata: An empirically Generated Growth Curve We have also transferred the following age–related items from the Articles page: 3 new items have been added to the Articles webpage: Yorkshire Yews by Edwin Pretty Yew trees in churchyards in East Surrey One new site has been added this month, that of Sunbury–on–Thames, featuring a yew described by Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist. Barry Saich has also provided new photos of the yew at Hayes. The work to improve the quality of the images in the Gazetteer pages has continued. January 2009 |
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