NEN Gallery

The Yew is a dark green, evergreen tree with flattened neddles. It grows up to 20 meters and can live for up to 1000 years. It flowers in March and in Autumn produces bright red fruits on female trees, as the yew is a dioecious species (with separate male and female plants). Many churchyards have Yew trees as they were thought to protect people from unquiet spirits and witches. Old houses often have either a yew tree or a holly bush growing next to the main entrance for protective purposes. This tree was pictured in Stagsden Church yard in Bedfordshire- mid November 2005.