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| *****SWAAG_ID***** | 968 |
| Date Entered | 17/12/2016 |
| Updated on | 18/12/2016 |
| Recorded by | Tim Laurie |
| Category | Tree/Shrub Record |
| Record Type | Botanical HER |
| Site Access | Private |
| Record Date | 17/09/2010 |
| Location | Swaledale |
| Civil Parish | Marske |
| Brit. National Grid | Hidden |
| Geology | Block scree below Limestone Scar |
| Record Name | The largest single stem yew in Swaledale |
| Record Description | The minimum girth of this fine yew measures 5.07m (16ft 9inches) girth below the first branch. The exposed powerful main roots of this ancient yew grow astride a large block of limestone in block scree below a limestone scar. It is my understanding the roots can only grow through soil and it is clear that the base of this tree is far above present soil level. Does this imply that when this yew tree germinated, the contemporary soil level was above this limestone block on which the tree grows? For full details and very fine pencil drawings of the cliff yews and very many representative drawings of all tree species of Swaledale, see Mrs Jocelyn Campbell's fine and comprehensive book: 'Trees in the Swaledale Landscape' recently published by Stephen Eastmead on behalf of SWAAG. |
| Dimensions | 5.07m (16ft 9 inches) minimum girth below the first branches. |
| Additional Notes | This fine ancient yew is the largest single stem yew tree recorded to date in Swaledale.
This tree is not necessarily the oldest yew tree in Swaledale. The most ancient trees grow at the top edge of the most exposed limestone scars. These high cliff edge yews grow exceedingly slowly and are multi-stemmed. These cliff edge trees are of considerable width and comprise many individual stems or trunks. They lose many of these stems to high winds and throw up replacements from a root system which extends far into the cliff face. These cliff edge yews can live indefinitely. Unbelievably the annual rings counted from sections cut through wind-blown stems of cliff yews can be as close as 3-4 rings per mm.
Single stem yews growing in church yards or at more sheltered locations in Swaledale grow at the much faster rate of one annual ring every 2-3mm. |
| Image 1 ID | 7086 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 1 Description | The largest yew recognised to date in Swaledale. |  |
