Craigends Yew facts for kids
The Craigends Yew is a very old and special tree in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It's a type of Yew tree called a 'layering yew'. This amazing tree grows near the River Gryfe in what used to be the Craigends Estate. Experts believe it is between 500 and 700 years old! It's one of Scotland's biggest and oldest layering yew trees.
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About the Craigends Yew Tree
The Craigends Yew is officially recorded as tree number 31486. Layering yews grow in a unique way. Their branches hang down and touch the ground. When they touch the soil, they can grow roots. This process is called 'layering'. New stems can also grow upwards from these rooted branches.
Over time, the original tree's main trunk might die. But the new rooted branches, which are clones, keep growing. This makes the tree's base wider and often creates a hollow space in the middle. Since layering is not like growing from seeds, all the new parts of the tree have the exact same DNA as the parent tree.
Experts think the Craigends Yew is between 600 and 700 years old. The group of cloned trees now covers a huge area. Its crown, or top part, is about 100 meters (328 feet) around! The main trunk of the original tree is about 8.86 meters (27 feet) around.
Many small plants grow on the tree, like ferns, ivy, and mosses. These plants, called epiphytes, love the damp air around the yew. The tree is generally healthy, but its main trunk is hollow. It also has some holes and decaying branches. New branches are growing from dormant buds on the horizontal parts.
You can see the tree from a public path nearby. You can also view it from across the River Gryfe. In the past, some people caused damage to the tree. But in 2018, a special project helped protect it. They removed other trees that were blocking its sunlight. They also cleared plants around it to make it easier to visit. The tree has room to grow bigger on two sides. A housing estate fence is on one side, and the River Gryfe is on the other. There's even a path cut through the grove so you can walk inside without harming the tree.
How Yew Trees Grow
Most yew trees grow straight up, like a typical tree. But some yews have special growth forms. For example, the Irish Yew has branches that grow mostly upwards. Layering yews, like the Craigends Yew, have branches that bend down and root in the soil. This creates a wide, spreading grove from one original tree. Another very rare way yew trees grow is when new trees sprout from the roots of the parent tree. This is different from layering branches.
History of the Craigends Yew
The land where the Craigends Yew stands was given to William Cuninghame in 1479. His family, the Cuninghames, lived at Craigends for centuries. They built a fortified house there. The last owner from this family died in 1917. Later, in 1971, the old mansion house was taken down. New houses were built on the estate starting in 1973.
Records from 1818 describe the estate as having "pleasant orchards and gardens." It's possible the Craigends Yew was one of the first trees planted by the Cuninghame family. They owned the land from at least the mid-1400s.
In 2016, the Craigends Yew was chosen as a finalist for Scotland's Tree of the Year. This award is given by the Woodland Trust.
Other Layering Yews in Scotland
The Craigends Yew is not the only ancient layering yew in Scotland. You can find other amazing examples at places like Ormiston, Traquair House, Whittingehame, and Broich near Kippen.
Images for kids
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The common growth form of yew trees.
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A fastigiate growth form with vertical branches, like in Irish Yews.
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Another layering yew at Ormiston in East Lothian, dating from at least 1474.
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The Craigends Yew with its layering branches.
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