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Topic: Fortingall Yew

	Illustrated Guide to Places to Visit - Fortingall Yew
		Fortingall is a small village in the heart of Perthshire, at the entrance to Glen Lyon, not far from Loch Tay.
		The yew tree which grows there has been estimated to be at least 3,000 years old and possibly as old as 5,000 years.
		The Fortingall Yew is being joined by the Dunkeld Larch (planted a mere 250 years ago, but one of the first of its type planted in Scotland) and the Birnam Oak (the last remaining tree in a wood made famous by Shakespeare) as part of a scheme to improve around 40 forest sites in Perthshire.
	www.rampantscotland.com /visit/blvisitfortingall.htm (514 words)

	Notes on The Yew
		The yew tree is held sacred by the Druids because of its symbolism of death and rebirth.
		The Yew is sacred to the goddess Hecate, and the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess; both are guardians of the Underworld, death and the afterlife.
		Yew wood was regarded as especially magical to the Celts, due to its connection with the dead and the ancestors, which were deeply respected.
	www.druidnetwork.org /articles/theyew.html (3284 words)

	New Document (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-15)
		Yew trees are thought of today as ornamentals for the garden, but in their natural state they are stately trees that can grow to fifty feet in height.
		Yew trees were planted in front of the homes of those, such as Priests, who were tax-exempt and royalty were compared to Yews as being blessed with everlasting reigns.
		Yew was one of the "nine sacred woods" used in the ritual fires of the Celts.
	home.twcny.rr.com /topazowl/yewdeck.htm (835 words)

	Taxus baccata description
		The oldest known yews have invariably lost most of their heartwood to decay and in any event tend to be isolated individuals, usually growing in places that have been regarded as sacred since before the Christian era.
		Yew was also employed in a less forthright manner, as a poison, used for assassination, suicide, as an arrow poison, and to poison fish and mammals.
		Besides the many yews associated with Christian shrines in the British Isles, reservations containing significant populations of wild yew have been established in Wierzchlas Forest on Mukrz Lake, Polska (Poland); near Great Fatra and in the Bakony Forest of Magyarország (Hungary); and near Kolomya in Ukraine (Hartzell 1991).
	www.conifers.org /ta/ta/baccata.htm (1042 words)

	Fortingall Yew Tree
		The yew is a primordial tree and it is believed to date back for at least two hundred million years, which considerably antedates the era of the human race.
		It is no wonder that from time immemorial the eternal yew appears to have been seen as the immortal tree of life and held with sacred reverence throuthout the ages.
		It has also been noted that yew trees were often associated with ancient hill forts and, true to form, on an elevated position close by the Fortingall Yew is to be found the remains of an old hill fort called Dun Geal which translates from the gaelic as 'the white fort'.
	www.tartan.tv /Web/Site/NewSite/Directory/Programmes/Fortingall_Yew_Tree.asp (661 words)

	The Yew
		Then, with the coming of the Druids, yew trees were integral in many of their sacred sites, and yew was chosen for their wands and staffs because of the wood’s extraordinary power of resisting decay when seasoned and polished.
		Yew sticks were used for divination through reading the signs formed as they were cast onto the ground (rather like reading tea leaves).
		Yew rods were inscribed with the scared characters of the ogham script and these rods were cut at Lughnasa, the feast of the god Lugh, the ancient sky god.
	www.cvni.org /stories/yew/yew.html (1130 words)

	Totteridge Residents' Association
		The huge yew tree in St Andrew’s Churchyard - estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old - is a mere youngster in comparison with others of the species.
		The record in the UK is held by a yew at Fortingall in Scotland that is thought to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old.
		A yew spear was found embedded in the body of a woolly mammoth that died about 250,000 years ago.
	www.totteridgeresidents.org /yearbook2005_2.htm (511 words)

	Fortingall Yew - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		Various estimates have put its age at between 2000 and 5000 years; recent research into yew tree ages (Harte 1996, Kinmonth 2006) suggests that it is likely to be nearer the lower limit of 2,000 years.
		The yew is nothing spectacular to look at - it is of no great height, and its once massive trunk (16 metres, or 52 feet in girth in 1769, of unknown original height) is split into a number of separate stems, giving the impression of several smallish trees.
		This is a result of the cutting out of pieces of its wood as tourist trinkets in the nineteenth century and the natural decay of the ancient heartwood, which has reduced the centre of the trunk down to ground level.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Fortingall_Yew (234 words)

	Archived Weblog Entry - 10/26/2004: "Yew trees"
		Not many years ago, people guessed the age of yews by measuring the girth of their trunks and in a lot of cases reckoned they were somewhere between 200 and 400 years old.
		It has never been easy to calculate the age of a yew because the tree is prone to a disease which destroys the interior of the trunk to make it hollow and thus it is impossible to count the growth rings.
		For all its appeal, it must be said that all parts of a yew tree are poisonous to humans and most animals, the exception being the flesh of its bright red berries; the seed itself is poisonous.
	www.nicholasrhea.co.uk /author/archives/00000024.html (900 words)

	Lyneham Village Online - St Michael and All Angels Church (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-15)
		Yew is a resilient tree which will tolerate a lot of shade and withstand smoke and salty winds.
		Yew wood is amongst the densest of all conifers and is elastic so was once used for making long bows, spears and dagger handles.
		So the yew has always been a symbol of death and rebirth, the new that springs out of the old, and a fitting tree for us to study at the beginning of this new year.
	www.lynehamvillage.com /community/church/stmichaelyewtree.html (520 words)

	Fortingall Yew
		Situated almost in the mouth of Glen Lyon, Fortingall is considered to be one of the most interesting and picturesque villages in all of Scotland.
		In the churchyard is the famous yew tree, dated at 3000 years of age.
		West from the village of Fortingall, only a mile up the glen, is MacGregor's Leap, where in 1565, the Chief of the landless Greglach made an incredible leap across the river chasm when pursued by Campbell Bloodhounds.
	www.visitrannoch.com /fortingall.htm (542 words)

	Yew
		Botanically the Yew family is seen as a distinct evolutionary branch of the Conifer family, which seems to have reached its peak in the Tertiary and is today represented by 6 species found across the Northern Hemisphere.
		The Totteridge Yew in Herefordshire was measured in 1677 by Sir John Cullum as having a girth of 26 ft at 3 ft from the ground.
		Yew were also often planted at the centre of a tribal territory, which often served as a gathering place for clan meetings.
	www.the-tree.org.uk /BritishTrees/yew.htm (10177 words)

	Perthshire Diary - The Fortingall Yew Tree - April 8th 1769 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-15)
		“In Fortingall churchyard are the remains of a prodigious ewe tree whose ruins measured fifty six feet and a half in circumference.”
		In Fortingall the old pagan custom of lighting the Beltane fire was carried on for many years by the boys of the village.
		The place chosen was the old yew tree in the village churchyard.
	www.perthshirediary.com /html/day0408.html (128 words)

	Monarch of antiquity
		Moreover, this ancient yew may have been 3,000 years old when, according to a local oral tradition, Pontius Pilate was born at Fortingall, which translates from the gaelic placename 'Feart-nan-Gall' as the 'Stronghold of the Strangers'.
		This led to the supposition that of all the trees in Britain the Fortingall Yew was monarch of antiquity.
		Legend claims that the Fortingall Yew marks the actual geographic centre of Scotland and its heart or 'axis mundi', although it is possible that geographically the real axis mundi is located on Mt. Schiehallion ("the fairy hill of the Caledonians"), the holy mountain which lies just five miles north of Fortingall.
	www.electricscotland.com /bible/connections1.htm (1951 words)

	Yew Tree
		In Irish mythology, the yew is one of the five sacred trees brought from the Otherworld at the division of the land into five parts.
		The yew trees were usually planted in a deliberate manner: one beside the path leading from the funeral gateway of the churchyard to the main door of the church, and the other beside the path leading to the lesser doorway.
		Branches of yew were borne in Palm Sunday processions instead of palm or olive and the altars of many churches were traditionally decked with branches of yew on Easter Day.
	www.3pintsgone.com /StValery/YewTree.htm (1449 words)

	Fortingall Yew
		Situated almost in the mouth of Glen Lyon, Fortingall is considered to be one of the most interesting and picturesque villages in all of Scotland.
		In the churchyard is the famous yew tree, dated at 3000 years of age.
		West from the village of Fortingall, only a mile up the glen, is MacGregor's Leap, where in 1565, the Chief of the landless Greglach made an incredible leap across the river chasm when pursued by Campbell Bloodhounds.
	www.visitkilliecrankie.com /fortingall.htm (542 words)

	Tour of Scotland.
		From Foss we drove to Keltneyburn and the Iron Fairy sculptures of Heather M. Cumming.
		Further west we visited Fortingall and Fortingall Yew.
		After Fortingall we drove to Kenmore to have lunch in the Taymouth Trading Company Cafe.
	www.visitdunkeld.com /tour-scotland-raine.htm (1249 words)

	Europes oldest living tree.
		he Fortingall Yew is an ancient yew tree thought to be at least 3000 years old that stands in a churchyard at Fortingall, near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Scotland.
		And quite apart from its obvious cultural and historical significance as something that was alive and already pretty old when the Picts were fighting off the Romans, the Fortingall Yew is also of enormous scientific interest as a living repository of ancient genetic material.
		So we have plenty of good reasons why we are anxious to keep the Fortingall Yew alive as long as possible.
	www.wildlifenews.co.uk /articles2000/feb/feb2600i.htm (450 words)

	Fortingall Yew tree
		Moreover, this ancient yew may have been 3,000 years old when, according to a local oral tradition, Pontius Pilate was born at Fortingall, which translates from the gaelic placename 'Feart-nan-Gall' as the 'Stronghold of the Strangers'.
		This led to the supposition that of all the trees in Britain the Fortingall Yew was monarch of antiquity.
		Legend claims that the Fortingall Yew marks the actual geographic centre of Scotland and its heart or 'axis mundi', although it is possible that geographically the real axis mundi is located on Schiehallion ("the fairy hill of the Caledonians"), the holy mountain which lies just five miles north of Fortingall.
	www.sacredconnections.co.uk /holyland/fortingallyew.htm (2032 words)

	Fortingall Bed and Breakfast Holiday Accommodation
		We are situated across the river from Fortingall, which is renowned for its ancient Yew Tree, Standing Stones and the reputed birthplace of Pontius Pilate.
		Fortingall, a village where legend has it Pontious Pilate, who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was born.
		Fortingall is also home to the Fortingall Yew, a tree between 3,000 - 5,000 years old that is believed to be the oldest living thing in Europe.
	www.ukbedandbreakfasts.co.uk /scotland/fortingall/index.html (230 words)

	Fortingall Art Home Page (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-15)
		It is hoped that the newly refurbished Fortingall Hotel can also be utilised as a joint venue for several evenings of illustrated talks, music and poetry.
		Fortingall is reputed to be the birthplace of Pontious Pilate and is home to the ancient Fortingall yew.
		Fortingall Art is proud to present the most recent work of Keith Brockie.
	basic1.easily.co.uk /02E02A/03B013/exhibition.htm (257 words)

	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: New Views of Kew: Summer Festival 2004: Treetop Walkway, Fortingall Yew
		This tree has been estimated to be 5,000 years old and it is believed to be the most ancient Yew in Britain, even the oldest living thing in Europe.
		It stands in Fortingall churchyard, at the geographical heart of Scotland.
		In 1769 it was recorded as having a girth of 56.5 feet (17 metres).
	www.rbgkew.org.uk /newviews/adventures/tree_yew2.shtml (188 words)

	Fortingall Hotel, Glen Lyon, by Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland.
		In the heart of Highland Perthshire, sitting at the foot of Glen Lyon - one of Scotlands most beautiful glens - lies the unique historic conservation village of Fortingall, famous for its gracious 5000 year old Yew Tree.
		From the graceful surroundings of the dining room, to the luxury and comfort of the eleven bedrooms, the Hotel offers 21st Century comfort and service whilst retaining its Victorian style and heritage.
		The historic building retains a quiet elegance which combined with the peace and tranquility of the area and the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, makes the Fortingall Hotel the perfect escape.
	www.fortingallhotel.com (163 words)

	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: New Views of Kew: Summer Festival 2004: Treetop Walkway, Fasciinated by Yew
		• Yews are dioecious – which means that there are separate male and female trees.
		• The Yew (Taxus baccata) is one of only three native conifers in the UK, the others being Juniper (Juniperus communis) and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris).
		• The wood of Yew is very dense and elastic; it was once widely used for making long bows, spears and dagger handles.
	www.rbgkew.org.uk /newviews/adventures/tree_yew.shtml (229 words)

	Archie Miles Photography
		YEW - a very large collection featuring most of the famous ancient yews from around Britain.
		The Crom Yews in Co. Fermanagh - vast tangled canopy of two interwoven trees.
		The Florence Court Yew - a sport of fastigiate form which is the mother tree of every other Irish yew in the world.
	www.archiemiles.co.uk /Yew_Gallery1.html (117 words)

	Scotland on Sunday - Plan to save Scotland’s ancient yew trees takes root
		A MAJOR campaign to save Scotland’s oldest yew trees, some of which are thousands of years old, is to be launched this week.
		Conservationists are concerned that trees such as the ancient yew at Fortingall, Perthshire, which at 5,000-years-old could be Europe’s oldest living organism, are at risk from vandalism and neglect.
		Pontius Pilate is believed to have hidden in the branches of the Fortingall Yew as a child.
	scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com /index.cfm?id=270762002 (488 words)

	Royal Forestry Society of England, Wales and Northern Ireland Home Page
		Britain's oldest tree is probably the Fortingall Yew in Tayside, which is believed to be over 3000 years old.
		Britain is thought to have the largest population of 'ancient' trees in Europe.
		Yew leaves may help in the treatment of cancer; a drug called Taxol can be produced from them.
	www.rfs.org.uk /thirdlevel.asp?ThirdLevel=118&SecondLevel=66 (385 words)

	Big Tree Country - Fortingall Yew
		The tree sits in the corner of the churchyard of Fortingall village kirk and is surrounded by a wall and railings, which serve to protect it.
		A major heritage tree of international important, what you see today are the relics and offspring of the original, which was recorded in 1769 as having a girth of 17 metres (65.5 ft).
		Steeped in history and folklore, prior to the introduction of Christianity, yew trees were regarded as the ‘tree of eternity’.
	www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk /index.asp?llm=11 (205 words)

	Scotland (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-15)
		This is the Fortingall yew, the oldest living tree in Europe.
		Through many years of misuse, the trunk diminished from its original grand size, but parts of the edge continue to live and thrive, and its doing pretty well, all told.
		We read that the tree was around 3000 years old, but the sign in front claims that it is over 5000 years old.
	www.stanford.edu /~callisto/Travel/Scotland/10yew.html (64 words)

	Cali Net Travel Resources - Destinations in Scotland - Scottish Introduction - Perthshire - Fortingall
		Near the church at the east end of the village is the Fortingall Yew.
		Another surprising aspect of Fortingall is the myth that Pontious Pilot was born here.
		It is said that his father was a Roman envoy sent by Caesar Augustus to help quell the warlike activities of the Picts and he had a child with a local woman, perhaps one of the Menzies Clan.
	www.destination-scotland.com /intro/perthshire/fortingall.asp (213 words)

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