If you're ever driving near Wellington in Somerset, the Ashbrittle Yew is another ancient and impressive specimen. Possibly the second oldest tree in the UK. Also situated in a church yard. Planted on a burial mound 3000-4000 years ago. The tree has about 8 massive branches coming up from the ground which look like 8 separate trees.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Hi Tick. Thank you for your message. That tree sounds amazing and with all the branches coming from the ground, it’s a testament to how resiliant these trees are.

I was there last week! It’s an honor to be in the presence of this ancient beauty.

@mackieoutdoors9410

9 ай бұрын

Beautiful location Jane, magical in my opinion. A place to let the imagination roam free.

Wow, that was beautiful. Wish I could come and hug this tree 😊

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Why don’t you make the journey and do that very thing Cindy? 😀

I hope it’s well protected. One of our oldest trees in British Columbia Canada was vandalized. There are sick people out there.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Well I don’t know about well protected, we can only hope that such places don’t get vandalised Kathy. The tree at Sycamore gap was cut down by vandals recently, I can’t imagine the thinking of people like that.

Beautiful story. Thank you!

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Thank you Avalon. Glad you enjoyed it 😀

You have a lovely accent and soothing voice. Thank you for this terrific video.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Thank you Joyce, feel free to use it to get to sleep 😆. I’m really glad you enjoyed the video 😀

I always get the most interesting videos recommended to me after 2am in the morning. If anyone can figure out why that might be, I'm so curious. Nice video!

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Morning Scrib. I have no idea, but glad you enjoyed the video 🤙

It’s a great part of Scotland. Thank you for the video 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@mackieoutdoors9410

8 ай бұрын

Its beautiful there. Thank you for the message 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@McConnachy

8 ай бұрын

@@mackieoutdoors9410 it has a special connection for me, my granny came from a Croft nearby, they left after WW1 after her brothers were lost in the war, there was nobody left to work the land and the estate took it over. Their house is now a ruin.

@mackieoutdoors9410

8 ай бұрын

@@McConnachy have you visited the Croft? That’s a heartbreaking story.

@McConnachy

8 ай бұрын

@@mackieoutdoors9410 it was a very common situation. After WW1. Many of the Scottish regiments were sent to Murmansk in 1919 to fight the reds in Russia, one of her brothers was lost there, she told me he froze to death due to lack of proper equipment, but you may notice in every Highland community the long list of deaths for areas with hardly anyone in them. From this area most people moved into the North east, Angus and Aberdeenshire. Duncan’s, MacPhersons, MacDonalds, MacGregors, Reid’s, Robertson’s and Donnachie’s. Where I live every second person has one of these names. You may also notice most memorials have 1914 to 19, instead of 18. Yes I took my wife and 3 children to see the Croft. We found their old zinc bath tub and wash basin, mainly corroded through, and remains of old boots etc. it’s now covered in forestry. I’m not sure how many thousands of years that the population were there, wiped out between the clearances, WW1 and finally financial destitution.

There are many old around the world. In Sweden we have this and the age is proven. Old Tjikko is an approximately 9566 year-old Norway spruce, located on Fulufjället Mountain of Dalarna province in Sweden. Old Tjikko originally gained fame as the "world's oldest tree".[1] Old Tjikko is, however, a clonal tree that has regenerated new trunks, branches and roots over millennia rather than an individual tree of great age. Old Tjikko is recognized as the oldest living Picea abies and the fourth-oldest known clonal tree.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your message. How fascinating, if only old Tjikko could speak, imagine the stories it could tell. Very interesting message 🤙

Well done. This is another trip for the bucket list.

@mackieoutdoors9410

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dennis. Well worth a visit buddy 🤙

It is awe inspiring when you think of how ancient this tree is. I have been there a couple of times.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Hi Louisa, how are you? Yes it’s literally breath taking to consider how long it has been there. Makes you wonder who has visited it over the centuries.

@Lousialee-hm3gu

2 ай бұрын

@@mackieoutdoors9410 Hi. I'm ok thanks. How are you? Yes, I always wonder what changes trees have seen. A short lived tree such as a birch only lives about 70 years whereas a walnut tree just starts to produce fruit at about that age. I would have loved to see the magnificent oak and beech that covered a lot of Scotland before it was all clear felled for boat building etc. In comparison we're like a midgie or a mayfly.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

@@Lousialee-hm3gu good morning, I’m good thanks. I didn’t know birch only lived around 70 years. Apparently at one time, from the tip of Scotland to the very south of England, you could have walked from branch to branch on trees and never touch the ground, that’s how populated with trees Britain was. In Scotland there’s a determined effort to re-plant only native trees in places like the woodland trust land. I’m guessing that thinking can only go back so far into the past, as Britain has been through so many changes over millions of years, including tropical.

@Lousialee-hm3gu

2 ай бұрын

@@mackieoutdoors9410 Good morning. Yes Scotland used to be covered in mature trees such as oak,beech etc as well as the other native trees. It would be amazing to walk amongst such trees (providing you knew you were going to be safe from wolves, bear, wild boar.)

This is a beautiful video. I particularly loved seeing the engraved stones in the walk through history. Something many people don't realize about the placement of so many old churches near ancient yews and holy wells (which predate the churches and even Christianity itself) is the calculated strategy for religious conversion involved. Why attempt to convert the masses to come worship at your own place, when you can simply infiltrate the one they have attended for many generations?

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the compliment and I’m glad you enjoyed the video. You’re absolutely right, I think it would be a rare thing for a church to have not been built on a pre-existing spiritual site. I talk about this in my other video ‘Dunino Den’ which is believed to have been a pagan site long before Christianity came along. When Christianity appeared in Britain, it was important to incorporate established spiritual sites with the new faith. By doing this and incorporating parts of the old faith into the new, respecting the old faith and its followers, they knew that eventually, over the centuries, Christianity would prevail and the pagan ways would be forgotten. Of course, as we now know, paganism has not been forgotten, but Christianity has flourished, for the most part, in its place.

Thanks for the story and production. what a beauty!

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Hi Wilson. Thank you, I’m really glad you enjoyed it 😀

A great tribute .It's on my list to visit.The oldest tree in Ireland is known as the Silken Thomas Yew but it s only a chicken when compared to yours.Its believed to be around 800 years old and stands on the grounds of St.Patricks churc and college,Maynooth, Co.Kildare.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Good morning Barry. I’m glad you watched the video. 800 years though, imagine all that’s happened in that time and the stories that tree could tell if only it could speak. Thank you for your message buddy 🤙

Fantastic.....loved this ✌

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Thank you Andy, much appreciated ☺️

This was very interesting thank you, but nowadays most experts feel the tree is 'merely' 1-2 thousand years old! Still fabulous though.

@mackieoutdoors9410

3 ай бұрын

It’s certainly up for debate. Many scientists disagree on the age of the tree, but if it is 2000 years old, imagine the history that this tree has lived through.

A well produced video. I look forward to seeing more. Thanks

@mackieoutdoors9410

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Keith and thank you 🤙

Very interesting thank you 👌👍

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it Louise 😀

@louisep5178

2 ай бұрын

@@mackieoutdoors9410 Rosslyn Chapel would be amazing too thanks for the vid 💎🙏

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

@@louisep5178 hi Louise. I’ve been to Rosslyn, it’s simply stunning inside, however, the movie the DaVinci code made it look huge 😀. Have you been yourself? I’ve been thinking of doing a video on Rosslyn.

@louisep5178

2 ай бұрын

@@mackieoutdoors9410 Thanks for your reply it is somewhere I have always wanted to visit because of the fascinating history and symbolism there but there is not a train station near to travel up from London so would love to see a vid of it if you ever go there 🙏💎

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

@@louisep5178 well you’ve convinced me to go back and make a video about this mysterious place. I was there a few months back, it truly is breathtaking when you go inside, I can’t recommend enough.

That was excellent! So interesting and well explained, I enjoyed learning of something new here today. Thank you very much, From New Zealand.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Thank you, very much appreciated and I’m glad you enjoyed it 😀

Gorgeous video. And that TREE! It’s so beautiful. I love Yew trees. Always have and, to me, they have huge personalities like all trees. But WOW! Nine thousand years old is just mind-boggling. 😮 I have subscribed and look forward to more videos like this. Thank you. 😊

@mackieoutdoors9410

11 ай бұрын

Thank you boo. If you get the opportunity, be sure to visit 😀

Tree has had more dead people around it than alive - no wonder it's doing so well and is so old.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

A beautiful place buddy, I highly recommend it 🤙

Another absolutely glorious video!! Keep it up mate learning something new every singe video!

@mackieoutdoors9410

Жыл бұрын

Thanks buddy, glad you enjoyed it Martin. Lots of interesting History out there, sometimes the smallest thing can have a great story behind it matey 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️

Chronos, on the tree as a measurement of time: "I well long for yew!"

Great video. Thanks.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Bob 😀🤙

Was upset, it was nothing to what I expected. But, it is still living so has to be respected after over 2000 years I believe.

Another eye opening insightful video. Definitely a place to go roaming and consume. Thank you so much

@mackieoutdoors9410

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the compliment Annie, very kind of you. Yes, I highly recommend a visit, to stand under the branches of that tree and let your imagination run free.

@annie600

Жыл бұрын

@@mackieoutdoors9410 You took the thought out my mind, i will do thank you.

The oldest tree or rootsystem in Europe. Is the over 9000 year old norwegian spruce in northern Sweden. That tree though doesnt regenerate once cut. But survived living on a mountain top, over the glaciers covering Scandina in the ice age. The cold made it low and creeping. Now its not and there was a warm period 5000 years ago. It probably began to spread much then. Leading to norwegians saying the spruce came from the east and swedes said it came from the west. Because of how it dominated much more in western Sweden and they tracked its history. Most of Norway though has been artificially planted with it. I didnt understand the argument of the jew being 9000 years old. But since the jew can regenerate if cut down by humans during this time it just might have. And its poisounous too and probably avoided by grazers. A bird could have planted the seed regardless of a landbridge.

I always thought that yew trees were in church yards because they are poisonous and the children need to be kept away. At the same time, these specific trees were necessary as yew was used for bows and later longbows. A church yard was a place that was safe but allowed the trees to continuously grow back after coppicing.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Yes they were indeed. It makes sense what you were saying about them growing in churchyards and allowing coppicing and not the destruction of the tree. I imagine the people using the Yew from these trees in a churchyard, also believed they had divine power due to where they were growing. It’s fun to speculate Henry.

This is really interesting to me I never knew about this place. I liked the story and the way you told it. very good video 👍

@mackieoutdoors9410

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy, much appreciated. I only found out about it recently myself, beautiful wee spot in Glen Lyon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤙

The yew in Doveridge is only 1000 or so years old, but Robin Hood is said to have got married under it!

Perthshire is a short drive for me I had no idea the oldest tree in Europe was in Scotland

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

It’s certainly a contender for the oldest 😀

The worlds oldest tree is alive and well in northern Sweden,wich is in Europé.

Yew was grown for archery, in Churchyards to keep animals away because it is poisonous, I believe

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Yew has been used for so many different things Evelyn, a very useful tree indeed.

✨🌴✨ 👶👏❤️

Llangernyew, Abergele is the oldest.

Who sang take on me on this video it's fantastic

@mackieoutdoors9410

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Patrick, much appreciated. It’s a cover by Melodicka bros. Just type in take on me cover in KZread search buddy 🤙

Huh, I’m surprised it’s not a larch.

@mackieoutdoors9410

Ай бұрын

Morning Patrick. Why a larch?

How was the age determined or discovered?

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Good morning. It’s been a good while since I made that video and did the research on it. If i remember rightly some dendrochronologists believe it’s 5,000 years old but there’s some contention by others that it might be 9,000 years old. I guess the difficulty is that most of the tree is gone, and what’s left makes it hard to give a definite age.

Can you please tell me who recorded the version of Aha's Take on me, featured in your video. Thank you.

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Melodicka bros or melodika bros were the group who covered the song buddy 🤙

@publover273

2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much. 👍

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

@@publover273 no problem at all. Hope you found it ok. Should have added that you’ll find it on KZread 🤙

There are mycelium systems in the ground that are older than that

why no pics of the tree trunk

@mackieoutdoors9410

2 ай бұрын

Hello. In the video I show the pegs that indicate the original circumference of the tree. Over the centuries the trunk has disappeared leaving only the remanent’s that you see in the video.

The oldest tree in Europe is an olive tree, and its situated in Greece.

Please keep it a secret or someone will cut it down like they did with the sycamore gap tree! 😮‍💨

Don't tell 'em that... some mofo will cut it down.

I heard they've cut the tree down now as the Economic migrants needed a villa 🤔