Broughton Hackett

In 1867 Edwin Lees wrote about this yew in The Botany of Worcestershire. ‘There is a hollow Yew-tree in the churchyard at Broughton Hackett, about five miles east of Worcester, whose dimensions and history were sent by the rector, the Rev.H.M.Sherwood, to Dr. Lindley, who thought it possible the tree might be one thousand years old’. The girth was reported as 24ft in Hardwicke’s science-gossip published in 1874.
In 2011 all that remains is this single hollowed out fragment. The large mound is also evidence of the once formidable tree that grew here. There are also chains hanging from the fragment that perhaps once joined it to other parts of the tree. Although small girthed now, we know this yew has been significantly larger in its past and it is recorded as Ancient (7m+).