YEW TREES
Southampton Old Cemetery
NEW PLANTINGS
In March 2007, Friends of Houghton Hillside Cemetery began a re-planting programme as some of the existing yew trees had been damaged. See their website http://www.houghton-hillside-cemetery.org.uk/
PRESERVE OUR YEWS
The Conservation Foundation has launched the UK Yew Guardianship Project which aims to register every yew over 500 years, as a first step toward acknowledging the oldest trees in Britain's landscape. More details in the spring issue of Parish Pump News, which also mentions that funding and financial advice is now available from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations Sustainable Funding Project website.
MEDICAL USES
Over the centuries yew has been used to make fine furniture often as drawers on bureaux or as boxes to contain personal belongings or documents. Famously the long bow men used yew in preparing their weapons. The golden colour wood makes a fine contrast on dark mahogany and walnut and is often used as inlays on furniture such as desks. There were also medical usage, a diaphoretric [to induce a sweat], tea made from the leaves was said to help to help in breathing difficulties and to sooth the lining of the stomach and to stop blood in the urine. A poultice of yew leaves was often used by bowmen to heal arrow wounds. The red berry is the only part that is not poisonous but the actual inner seed is very poisonous so great care has to be taken to remove it if you chose to try it.
As many yew trees pre-date the church with which they are associated it is interesting to reflect that the trees were part of pagan religious worship and many early Christian places of worship took over existing sites. As the sheep wandering in around the church were often poisoned it began the practice of building a hedge or a wall around the church to keep the animals out. This area was convenient for burials which led to the traditional churchyard and the yews that we associate with it.
CANCER RESEARCH
Helping in cancer research. The needles from yew trees are the source of a chemical that scientists believe to be of use in cancer research. Members may wish to consider when trimming back yew trees whether they could get in touch with some specialist contractors who come on site to collect the off cuts.
The chemical isolated is docetaxel, this can be produced from yew or by synthetic means. Firms engaged in the collection often have to travel long distances and have to plan out routes of operation so as much notice as possible even up to one year may be required. Limehurst Ltd of Chichester can be contacted on 01243 545455 [note hedge clippings only not from trees]. Friendship Estates of Doncaster will take tree and hedge clippings but note the cuttings must be the last year's growth. Contact them on 01302 700 220. Details about the research is obtainable at http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk
[Members with an income of less than £50,000 a year are eligible for free membership of NCVO]
Parish Pump News is available without subscription to conservation volunteers telephone 020 7591 3111 or e-mail
info@conservationfoundation.co.uk
website www.conservationfoundation.co.uk