Yew - Taxus baccata
Yews are evergreen trees found across the UK and can be extremely long lived with the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire believed to be up to 5000 years old.
Yews can be identified by their flat, dark green leaves and their red berry-like cones.
The seeds are highly toxic, as are the leaves and bark. Historically, this led to them being planted in church yards to prevent livestock grazing the grounds.
The wood was traditionally used for making longbows, though these days they are often found in topiaried hedgerows.
Yews can be identified by their flat, dark green leaves and their red berry-like cones.
The seeds are highly toxic, as are the leaves and bark. Historically, this led to them being planted in church yards to prevent livestock grazing the grounds.
The wood was traditionally used for making longbows, though these days they are often found in topiaried hedgerows.