Many of us regard the yew tree as mystical due to its connections with churchyards, sacred sites, and its remarkable longevity. Often living up to 2000 years, yew trees frequently predate the churches themselves. For the Celts and Druids, the yew was sacred, representing longevity, regeneration, protection, fertility, and magic, and these trees would have been planted on sites that were sacred.
Yew trees hold deep symbology within Christian belief too. These sacred trees have the ability to regrow new shoots from dying wood and can re-root from lowering branches touching the ground. These characteristics are seen as a symbol of Jesus' resurrection in Christian faith, and it was a tradition to bury loved ones with a sprig of yew.
Yew trees were planted in churchyards to justify enclosing the church's land. Without a fence, wandering animals might face the danger of illness from these highly poisonous trees. Every part of the yew tree is toxic to both animals and humans; even a small number of needles consumed can be lethal, so exercise caution and avoid foraging anything within reach of a yew tree or its root system. The exception is the flesh of the berry. The red, fleshy berry is called an aril, and it contains a seed that is also toxic. Some birds have learned to remove the flesh and discard the toxic seed.
