Skip Navigation
*
  • Visits and Holidays
  • Conservation, Heritage and Learning
  • Get Involved With The National Trust
    Countryside & Environment
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesArchaeologyClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesAccess & recreationClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClimate changeClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesCoastlineClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesEnvironmental practicesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesFood & farming Clear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesGreen PlacesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesLand & countryClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesNatureClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesTrees & woodsClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Selected item imageClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesHeritage treesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesAnkerwycke Yew, Berkshire
    Selected item index
    Borrowdale Yew, Cumbria
    Clear image used for layout purposesClumber Lime Avenue, Nottinghamshire
    Clear image used for layout purposesCrom Castle Yews, Co Fermanagh
    Clear image used for layout purposesMottisfont Abbey Plane Tree, Hampshire
    Clear image used for layout purposesNewton’s Apple Tree in Lincolnshire
    Clear image used for layout purposesFlorence Court Yew, Co Fermanagh
    Clear image used for layout purposesSpanish Chestnuts at Croft Castle, Herefordshire
    Clear image used for layout purposesTolpuddle Martyrs' Tree, Dorset
    Clear image used for layout purposesWild Cherry at Studley Royal, N Yorkshire
    Background imageClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesWoodland management Clear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Background imageClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesA day in the life ...Clear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Background imageClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesLinks & resourcesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesWhat is conservation?Clear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesOur water: From Source to SeaClear image used for layout purposes
    Clear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposesClear image used for layout purposes
    Places & Collections
    Learning & Discovery
    ""

    The Borrowdale Yew

    The Borrowdale Yew at Borrowdale, Cumbria

    © The National Trust

    The Borrowdale Yew at Borrowdale, Cumbria, is one of the four ancient yews (Taxus baccata) celebrated in Wordsworth’s 1803 poem, 'Yew Trees':

    'But worthier still of note
    Are those Fraternal Four of Borrowdale
    Joined in one solemn and capacious grove
    Huge trunks! and each particular trunk a growth
    Of intertwisted fibres serpentine'

    One of the four went down in a great storm in 1883, though the three others still survive. The Borrowdale Yew is female and boasts a large hollow that fits four people. Although it was damaged in a storm in 2005, the tree still thrives and has the potential to live for many more years.
    		*