Silvington - High Lane

The yew grows in a gateway next to a public footpath across a field (GR SO62318054). The new gate and fence suggest that there is no intention of removing this exceptional yew. This is possibly the best example ever seen of an old yew being completely replaced by a new yew growing inside the decaying sapwood of the original tree. It is normal to see the old sapwood shell acting as scaffolding for new growth on the outside, but in this instance, while we see an almost complete circle of dead sapwood shell, there is nothing at all growing on the outside. All of the old heartwood appears to have been replaced by internal growth. When all of that old sapwood disappears it will look like an unremarkable young yew with a rather redder than usual appearance. Only this record will tell the rest of the story. The yew was measured over the dead wood at a height of about 14” where you can see a visible narrow point above the root crown. Also observed was a slight mound on the north side of the tree with some rotted stump, suggesting at least the possibility that the tree has been larger still in the past.
With a girth of under 4m the tree is presently classified as notable. Because it displays veteran characteristics it will in the future be classified as V-con (veteran on account of its condition).