Caring For The Ankerwycke Yew, Berkshire

Oldest Trees In UK England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland

The ancient Ankerwycke Yew needs careful and precise maintenance to preserve its life for another few thousand years.

The Ankerwycke Yew is about 2,500 years old, making it the oldest tree in England. Because there are older trees in Scotland and Wales, it is not the oldest tree in the UK. However, it’s worth remembering that this ancient tree was already 500 years old when the first Romans invaded Britain under the orders of the Roman Emperor Claudius. 

Seeing below the Ankerwycke Yew: Posted to YouTube by 22reeve on 3 Dec 2012.

As with so many other ancient yew tree sites, there was an ancient pagan perception that the ground was sacred. Therefore it was later claimed for Christian worship, and a Benedictine Priory was established nearby.

In this short film we see tree expert Sharon Hosegood Radar mapping the roots of the Ankerwycke Yew. This latest technology maps the roots below ground which helps to plan access to this famous tree in a way that avoids root damage.

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If you want to know more about the Ankerwycke Yew, or discover more of these astonishingly ancient trees UK, head over to our page about The Oldest Trees In The UK.

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