Shipton Bellinger

1940 – Recorded by RCB Gardner.
1981 – Allen Meredith: “In a field near Snoddington Manor is a large yew now enclosed by a barbed wire fence, this tree is of particular interest. It is the largest yew I have seen which does not stand in a churchyard. The tree faces west from the manor. Judging by the decay on the west side I would say at some stage this tree was of much larger girth. Inside the hollow yew another yew has formed, and has a girth of 7′ 7”. It is possible to walk around this tree yet still remain inside the hollow yew. The tree is male. I make this observation to state that in my opinion the tree which flourishes inside the hollow yew did not grow from seed but is part of the old tree, growing again to take over the old shell.”
1982 – Allen Meredith: Girths of 26′ 9” (815cm) at 4′ and 26′ 4” (803cm) at 5′.
1997 – 748cm (24′ 6”) at 0.5m recorded.
August 1999 – Tim Hills: In the hollow centre of this yew is a fluted internal stem, with a girth of 8′ 3″ at the ground. Whatever eventually happens to the outer skin of this tree, here is an excellent example of the next generation forming in the centre of the old yew. It has many branches from 8′ upwards. Girth was 25′ 5” (775cm) at 2′.
December 2002 – Russell Cleaver: Full crowned hollow male in the middle of a field and fenced in. Clear stem to 1.8m, large internal aerial root itself 8′ girth. The field bears odd mounds. Girth 25′ 2” (767cm at the ground).