Fortingall Yew, an ancient yew (Taxus baccata) stands in a churchyard in the Perthshire village of Fortingall in Scotland. Estimates put its age at between 3000 and 5000 years, making it the oldest recorded tree in Europe. If it is close to the upper estimate it would be a contender for the title of the world's oldest single tree, rivalling the 4,600-year-old bristlecone pines of California. Binomial name Taxus baccata L. Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. ... Perthshire (Siorrachd Pheairt in Gaelic) is a traditional county in central Scotland, which extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...
The yew is nothing spectacular to look at - it is of no great height, and its once massive trunk (16 metres, or 52 feet in girth in 1769) is split into several separate stems. This is a result of the cutting out of pieces of its wood as tourist trinkets in the 19th century. Other than this the tree is still in good health and may last for many centuries yet. It is now protected by a low wall, but can still be easily viewed.
Fortingall is a small village in the heart of Perthshire, at the entrance to Glen Lyon, not far from Loch Tay.
The yew tree which grows there has been estimated to be at least 3,000 years old and possibly as old as 5,000 years.
The FortingallYew is being joined by the Dunkeld Larch (planted a mere 250 years ago, but one of the first of its type planted in Scotland) and the Birnam Oak (the last remaining tree in a wood made famous by Shakespeare) as part of a scheme to improve around 40 forest sites in Perthshire.
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