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Discover the ‘everlasting’ tree.

Description

• Average height and spread up to 20 metres by 20 metres
• Foliage: Evergreen
• Leaves: Straight, small needles with a pointed tip, colour ranges from dark green to green-grey. 
• Native to UK: Yes 

Did you know?

• Yew is one of the longest lived native tree species in Europe. The Llangernyw Yew, the oldest yew in Wales, is estimated to be 4,000 and 5,000 years old. 
• Yew trees have been thought to symbolise life and death throughout history; often found in Churchyards, the drooping branches of a yew tree can root and form new trunks where they touch the ground, thus allowing the tree to ‘resurrect’ itself. 
• Further adding to the symbolism of death that follows the Yew tree, its red berries that form in Autumn/Winter whilst invitingly juicy are toxic when eaten. They contain taxane alkaloids that have now been developed as anti-cancer drugs.