New Forest - Sloden Inclosure

Directions from Peter Norton as follows: Park in the Forestry car park at Fritham (Near the Royal Oak PH) and walk SW along Fritham plain following the gravel track for approx 1 mile and enter the fringes of Sloden Inclosure. As you start to walk downwards the yew in photo 1 (11′) will be on your R/H side – grid ref SU216127. The yew in photo 2 (12′) is 150yds further on, again just on the R/H side of the path – grid ref SU215125. Photo 3 shows 2 yews situated some 20 yds behind. Return to the path and retrace your steps back up the slope for about 100 yards and walk (no path) into the forest approx 20 yds to find yew in photo 4 (11′ 4”) -grid ref SU216125 which has a protruding limb that makes it look larger. Finally and still away from the gravel track the yew in photo 5 (13′ 9” and the largest) which is 100 yds approximately to the south of Yew 4.
Feb 2014 – New Forest notes by A.Passmore: Twenty one years ago a small grove of yew trees was planted in Sloden Inclosure to commemorate the centenary of a visit to the Inclosure by Tennyson. He was searching for the famous landmark trees which had recently been felled by the Office of Woods. In 2013, yew tree expert Peter Norton was carrying out a survey of the surviving ancient yews in Old Sloden Wood nearby. He recently visited the grove and found it in a sorry state with wire strangling some trees and with uncontrolled Douglas fir regeneration threatening the whole memorial. I am told by local tree enthusiast Chris Read (whose idea the memorial was) that he has been in touch with the Forestry Commission and they have agreed to carry out the necessary maintenance work. It is to be hoped that a proper record will now be made in their planning maps to prevent a recurrence of the problem.
May 2014 – Peter Norton observed that the chicken wire damaging these young yew had been removed.