The Barnes Yew

Although not a yew of great girth this is a rare London tree. We have heard that the tree might be in danger of being felled because of the recent loss of a branch.  This is a well looked after green oasis alonside a busy London street. The church is said to have been consecrated by Stephen Langton in the year of Magna Carta. The yew grows on the south side. Though some consider this yew to have been planted at the time the church was consecrated (1215), its girth tells us that it is considerably younger. At some time in the past the trunk was ‘preserved with about 3 hundredweight of concrete’. This at least prevents fires bering lit in its once hollow space, though the weight of the concrete may be contributing to the tree’s lean. Girth in 2009 was 11′ 2” (340cm) at 3′.