Itchen Abbas

October 1983 – Allen Meredith: The male tree has many small shoots giving it a bushy appearance on one side. Ivy getting a stranglehold. Some of its branches are dying back, some bits have been dumped around the trunk . Trunk is in a fairly good state and it is hoped that this yew will be well cared for. It is about 26 feet in girth at approximately 3 feet 6ins from the ground. Measuring a little difficult due to many obstructions. The tree is on a substantial hill, and could be seen quite clearly from the river.
August 1999 – Russell Cleaver: In the shadow of the yew is the grave of the last man to be hanged for horse stealing in England (Ch. Guide) The yew’s main branching is at 4′, bushy growth conceals the short stem. Girth recorded as 25′ 6” (7.77m at 0.45m).
April 1999 Tim Hills: I was concerned that the build up of drying grasses, several feet thick and spread over a considerable area beneath its branches, might affect the yew. The tree could not be measured.
In 2006 this had been dealt with, and the removal of low growth from sections of the tree made its fine bole more visible and it appeared to be flourishing.
Photos taken in 2010 show that grasses from the churchyard are one again being piled up beneath the yew.