Ancient Yew Trees with Chris Baines

Chris Baines, one of our fabulous patrons, explains the relationship between yew trees and holy places.
Churchyards are a true haven for veteran trees - particularly ancient yews. There are about 800 ancient and veteran yews in the churchyards of England and Wales - three quarters of the British population.
Internationally, Britain is a stronghold of veteran yew trees and so these churchyard yews are really important on a global level.
Some yew trees are thought to be 3,000 or 4,000 years old, pre-dating the Christian land on which they stand.
Whether you are the custodian of an ancient tree or just an interested observer, you may enjoy our guide to ancient yews and other trees including history, folklore and management:
www.caringforg...

[@rogergriffith286]

The Defynnog Yew in Wales is an interesting example. Pennant Melangell has several.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@rogergriffith286
The Ancient Yew Group has investigated the Defynnog tree and the claims that it is 5000 years old.
The discussion piece can be seen on their website but their conclusions are that whilst the tree might well be 2000 years old it is unlikely to be as old as 3000.

[@rogergriffith286]

@@Wotsitorlabart Thank-you.

[@mustamuri]

✨🌴✨ 👶👏❤️

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Most if not all yews found in churchyards were planted there at about the time of the building of the church - it follows the Mediterranean custom of planting evergreens in cemeteries.
The 4000 - 5000 year old claims for the age of yews are in most cases dubious.

[@Mozpam]

However the Llangernyw Yew near Conwy has been examined by experts (one of whom was David Bellamy) and estimated at 4-5000 years old. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llangernyw_Yew

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@Mozpam
David Bellamy was not an expert on yew trees.
He and colleagues at the Tree Register were convinced by one Allen Meredith, who in the 1970's had had mystical dreams regarding the yew tree, that they were in fact much older than previously thought. In the following years Bellamy signed over 130 certificates which can be seen in churches which claim that the yews in their churchyards pre-date Christianity - based upon Meredith's formula. But the actual history, archaeology and botany of the sites were overlooked and those estimates can be seen to be grossly exaggerated. Most yews in churchyards were planted at the time of the building of the churches.
A rough guide to the age of a yew is 1foot of girth for every 30 years plus or minus 5 feet for variation.
The Llangernyw yew is about 34 feet in circumference so using the formula it is approximately 900 - 1200 years old.
This would tie in with the date of the church - there are standing stones with carved crosses near the church of the 7th - 11th centuries.
Now yews are strange trees and can stop growing for long periods and then put on growth spurts so the Llangernyw yew may well be much older than the above figure - but 3000 - 4000 years older?

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​@@Mozpam
I posted a lengthy reply which refused to post - so another brief attempt.
David Bellamy wasn't an expert on yews. He was persuaded by a 'yew mystic' called Allen Meredith that yews were very much older than previously thought.
But his methodology did not take into account the history, archaeology or stratigraphy of the sites and they are wildly inaccurate.
There is a rough calculation for yews which gives the Llangernyw tree at about 900 to 1200 years - this corresponds with the known history of the church.
Yews were often planted at the same time as the churches were built and the churchyards formed.
But yews being yews the tree might well be older - but 3000 - 4000 years older?