View Full Version : Oldest tree in the UK
I just wen to see what is believed to be one of the oldest trees in the UK today ... it's an Yew tree in the grounds of a chruchyard in Llangernwy, Wales and it is believed to be 4 - 5000 years old!
Magic spot! Really humbling experience.
What I forgot to add was that this was in a graveyard and had, what appeared to be human bones tucked into one of the holes .. stille not sure whether we should tell someone!
, what appeared to be human bones tucked into one of the holes .. !
I hear bone makes a good top piece for your fire drill though Adi ! :-D
bothyman
19-01-2004, 09:23
Here is another one,
I have seen it and it looks like it would'nt make a decent bonfire.
>> http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns/townfirst1306.html
Here is another one,
I have seen it and it looks like it would'nt make a decent bonfire.
>> http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/towns/townfirst1306.html
Dear all.
Yews are a mystery, we haven’t a great understanding of them as they are a bizarre tree. They don’t behave like most trees that we have. We know that they grow very slowly and then they appear to stop. Then they appear to be dying and look full of decay. It then decides that it will start growing again of its own accord.
The dating of Yews is notoriously difficult, as I have said above, they don’t have a normal growth pattern. Most trees we can date from tree rings but with the Yew, which piece of wood is the tree!? What we do know is down to one mans drive and determination to try and understand the Yew and that is a man called Allen Mereidith. He has spent a lifetime researching the history, age, growth and their social standing in our culture. It is he who has convinced many confused botanist that are Yews are much older than we first thought with many being older the baby Jesus.
The Fortingall Yew is now believed to be over 9000 years old! Wow.
Best wishes.
Jack.
As long as they don't do to what they thought was one of the oldest trees in the states a few years back and cut it down to find out.