Wallace Yew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wallace Yew |
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The Wallace Yew in 2011
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| Location | Elderslie, Renfrewshire |
| Coordinates | 55°50′07″N 4°29′19″W / 55.8353°N 4.4886°W |
The Wallace Yew is a very old tree in Elderslie, Scotland. It is famous because of its link to the Scottish hero William Wallace. People say William Wallace hid in this tree's branches to escape English soldiers long ago. This special tree has been around since at least the 1700s. Even though it has faced fires and storms, it was still standing in 2019. Sadly, the tree is now getting sick from a type of fungus. To save its legacy, the local council has taken small pieces of the tree to grow new ones.
The Wallace Yew's Story
The Wallace Yew is believed to be from the time of William Wallace, a famous Scottish leader. Some people even say he planted it himself! If this is true, the tree would be about 700 years old. While we can't be sure it's that old, old records from the 1700s already called it "this ancient tree."
The tree stands in a field close to where William Wallace's home was thought to be. A popular legend says that Wallace once hid in the tree's thick branches. This helped him escape from English soldiers who were looking for him.
In an old book from 1857, the tree was described as looking very old. But it was also said to be healthy and growing many new branches. By 1912, people believed the Wallace Yew was over 600 years old. It was important for keeping William Wallace's name connected to the village. This was especially true after another famous tree, the Wallace Oak, had been cut down.
Challenges and New Growth
The Wallace Yew has faced some tough times. In 1978, someone set it on fire. Then, in 2005, strong storms damaged it again. These events made the tree weak and open to sickness. By 2008, it became infected with a fungus called Ganoderma. This fungus is very hard to treat and will eventually cause the tree to die.
In 2002, a group called the Conservation Foundation started a project to save Scotland's old yew trees. They launched this project right at the Wallace Yew, with help from a botanist named David Bellamy.
Even with all the damage, the tree, which was once about 10.5 meters (35 feet) tall, was still standing in 2018. To make sure its story continues, the Renfrewshire Council took twelve small pieces, called cuttings, from the tree. These cuttings are like tiny clones of the original tree. Six of them grew successfully and were about 45 centimeters (18 inches) tall by 2008.
One of these new trees will be chosen and planted near the original Wallace Yew. It will take about 30 years for this new tree to grow big and strong. This way, the legacy of the Wallace Yew will live on for future generations.
