© NTPL / Joe Cornish

One of the most impressive trees in Northern Ireland is near the ruins of the old Crom Castle on the Crom Estate, Co Fermanagh. This huge ‘tree’ is actually two yews (Taxus baccata) thought to have been planted close together in the 17th century.

By the 19th century they were described as being ‘an enormous green mushroom in contour’. Parties of 200 people are said to have dined beneath their branches, which at their peak measured about 23m (75ft) across.