Taxus baccata – Yew

The common yew, an evergreen, broadly conical conifer with dense foliage. It is native to a wide area of Europe, North East Africa and South West Asia. Yew trees tend to thrive in drier lime-rich soils. There are ancient common yew forests in the South of England.

  They are quite tolerant of pollution in towns and cities and can also survive in shady conditions.

  Yews have an interesting history surrounding religion, they are planted in graveyards can church grounds throughout Christian Europe. There is no single clear reason for this, although some theories are that Yew trees symbolise ‘eternal life’ as they live for so long. Others think that because the tree is toxic, it suggests death, or that they were planted in graveyards to discourage farmers allowing their livestock in graveyards, as the poisonous foliage would kill any livestock.

  The bole on a mature yew may be long and twisted. Its bark is reddish and when peeled reveals a reddish/brown layer. Its leaves are long and thin, almost needle like growing up to 4cm long and 3mm wide.