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Viewing swaag.org website implies consent to set cookies on your computer. Full details Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number 1155775
SWAAG Honorary President:
Tim Laurie FSA

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 *****SWAAG_ID***** 707
 Date Entered 24/03/2013
 Updated on 25/03/2013
 Recorded by Tim Laurie
 Category Tree Site Record
 Record Type Botanical HER
 SWAAG Site Name 
 Site Type 
 Site Name 
 Site Description 
 Site Access Public Access Land
 Location On west facing cliff above the eastern side of Swinnergill
 Civil Parish Muker
 Brit. National Grid NY 9129 0102
 Altitude 470m
 Geology Exposed strata at or just below the Crow Limestone
 Record Name Swinnergill. The highest recorded yew in Britain
 Record Description CLIFF YEW. This isolated yew tree grows on the top edge of a high scar or cliff above the eastern side of Swinnergill. At 470m AOD this yew is at the highest recorded limit of yew in Britain (Pearmain,D.A. and Corner,R.W.M. 2003. Altitudinal Limit of British and Irish Vascular Plants.) The existing recorded highest yew is also 470m AOD at Purple Mountain, Co Kerry, Ireland. However the previous record is on the far more congenial western, atlantic side of Britain. Conditions on this west facing NE Pennine cliff are much more continental and extreme. The girth of this self or wind coppicing tree is 2.5m and the rate of growth at this altitude and exposure conditions will be extremely slow. The exposed root system indicates loss of the cliff face from expansion of the yew tree roots which were originally within the rock face.
 Dimensions 2.5mgirth
 Geographical area Upper Swaledale
 Species Yew
 Scientific Name Taxus baccata
 Common / Notable Species Rowan the only other tree here.
 Tree and / or Stem Girth 2.5m
 Tree: Position / Form / Status Cliff tree. Isolated.
 Tree Site ID 0
 Associated Site SWAAG ID 0
 Additional Notes 
 Image 1 ID 4271         Click image to enlarge
 Image 1 Description Telephoto of Swinnergill from Kisdon. The Swinnergill Yew is the isolated yew at the top right of the photo.
 Image 2 ID 4272         Click image to enlarge
 Image 2 Description Telephoto of Swinnergill from Kisdon. The Swinnergill Yew is the isolated yew at the top centre of this photo.
 Image 3 ID 4273         Click image to enlarge
 Image 3 Description The Swinnergill Yew is on a low cliff above the footpath.
 Image 4 ID 4274         Click image to enlarge
 Image 4 Description The Swinnergill Yew is on a low cliff above the footpath.
 Image 5 ID 4275         Click image to enlarge
 Image 5 Description The Swinnergill Yew. Detail of the self coppiced trunks and exposed root.
 Image 6 ID 4276         Click image to enlarge
 Image 6 Description The Swinnergill Yew. Detail of the self coppiced trunks and exposed root.
 Image 7 ID 4277         Click image to enlarge
 Image 7 Description The Swinnergill Yew is on a low cliff above the footpath. View southward.
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