A year or so ago the Church in Wales protested there was no need for legislation to protect ancient yews as they had it all in hand and could put people in touch with recommended tree surgeons if work was needed to be done to one of its yew trees! Sadly the case of a butchered yew of over a thousand years at Llandegley, Powys, illustrates how very much such legislation is needed.

Here the church warden who thought the yew was leaning and dangerous, was given the go ahead from the Church in Wales Head of Property Services, to employ a local tree surgeon who said the yew tree was not ancient but was rotten, likely to fall and needed pollarding (a procedure definitely not recommended for old yews!). All branches from the yew were then removed before work was stopped. The Church now says they were probably ill advised. To make matters worse, foliage from branches falling into the neighbouring field caused the death of 3 sheep. An ancient tree specialist later brought in, confirmed that the yew is an ancient yew and advised that it wasn’t/isn’t dangerous, nor is it rotten. Ancient yews are typically hollow but this doesn’t mean they are rotten.

Locals were further upset by the insensitivity of the church newsletter which described the vandalism of the yew tree as a ‘makeover’. Locals described the tree as ‘dearly beloved’. The Church Property Committee said decisions about the fate of the yew had been based on ‘inaccurate information’.

Knowing what the yew is capable of, in decades to come, the trunk could sprout again, as did the older Gwenlais Valley yew, which suffered a similar fate. Llandegley has already lost all its other yews, which were described in Lewis’ 1834 ‘Topographical Dictionary of Wales as ‘some of the finest yew trees in south Wales’.

Archdeacon Alen Jevons said ‘Very sad about the Llandegley yew but there should be a more robust system in future. The problem will of course still remain that some parishes are not aware of the regulations and will undertake work without permissions. We will need to try to be vigilant about this.’ Is this really good enough that the fate of our ancient yews, the largest collection in the world is down to trying to be vigilant in future? People who love trees will surely agree that our precious ancient yews deserve better than this.

Andy Egan, erstwhile CEO of the International Tree Foundation said ‘That's terrible news about the yew at Llandegley. Is there anything you think can be done to help prevent other churches doing this? Can a letter be sent to every church? Can we ask them to consult with the Ancient Tree Forum if they have a concern about a yew or other ancient tree on their land? or their local tree warden or The Tree Council?’

Jane Stevens one of the concerned local people who tried to stop the damage said ‘I do hope the church will change the way their yews are looked after so no other ancient yews are butchered by tree surgeons  with chainsaws..’

I so hope the Church is listening but the only way to be sure of protection of our ancient yews is through Legal Protection.

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