Back to Tree Search

Fortingall Yew

Fortingall, Perth and Kinross

Recorded by: Not specified, Ancient Tree Hunt Project (HLF)

  • Heritage Tree

  • Trees of National Special Interest (TNSI)

  • Tree of the Year – Shortlisted

    Scotland, 2014

It was first described by Hon. Daines Barrington in 1769, when the circumference measured 16 metres. Large amounts had been cut away by the summer of 1833 by locals wanting to make relics for those visiting the area. It’s now hard to see this as a single tree, with several trunks within the wall which has been built to protect the tree.

About the tree

Show more
Species:
Common yewTaxus baccata
Form:
Multi stem
Standing or fallen:
Remnant
Living status:
Alive
Girth:
17.00m at a height of 0.10m (estimated)
Veteran status:
Ancient tree

Location of tree

County:
Perth and Kinross
Country:
Scotland
Grid reference:
NN74184702
Public accessibility:
Public - restricted access
Surroundings:
Churchyard

Comments ({{comments.length}})(5)

  • this tree is worth at least 20hugs!!

  • This auld Yew of ancient Kings of Glen Lyon in Alba is 9000 years plus at the turn of the Millennium, and yet Alive in our 21st century. We recommend a visit as we did, on any tour of the Highlands.

  • Clippings from the tree are to be taken to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh to form part of a mile long hedge. The purpose of this "Yew Conservation Hedge Project" is to maintain the DNA of Taxus baccata from ancient specimens in the UK as, worldwide, the trees are threatened by felling and disease.[

  • This is a remnant of a much larger older tree. A girth of 52 ft was recorded in 1769 and 56½ feet in 1884.

  • This tree is mentioned in the 'List of Remarkable Trees' appendix to "The planter's kalendar (1812)" which describes it as "The great yew at Fortingal, in Perthshire, measured by the Hon. Judge Barrington, previous to the year 1770, was in girth 52 feet"

  • {{comment.comment}}

Back to summary

Fortingall Yew

Fortingall, Perth and Kinross

Recorded by: Not specified, Ancient Tree Hunt Project (HLF)

About the tree

Species:
Common yew
Form:
Multi stem
Standing or fallen:
Remnant
Living status:
Alive
Girth:
17.00m at a height of 0.10m (estimated)
Condition:
--
Veteran status:
Ancient tree
Tree number:
4010
Local or historic name:
Fortingall Yew

Location of tree

County:
Perth and Kinross
Country:
Scotland
Grid reference:
NN74184702
Public accessibility:
Public - restricted access
Surroundings:
Churchyard
Ancient tree site:
--
Woodland Trust wood:
No

Wildlife

Epiphytes:
--
Fungi:
--
Invertebrates:
--
Bats:
--

Recorded by

Recorded by:
Not specified
Recording organisation:
Ancient Tree Hunt Project (HLF)
Last visited:
19/11/2007
First recorded:
19/11/2007