Bishopstoke

May 2003 – Tim Hills: ESE of where the church once stood. A large fallen section is producing new upright growth. 7 metres away another male yew is probably layered offspring of this tree. Girth of 16′ 11” (516cm) at 1′.
September 2005 – Russell Cleaver: ‘Hollow, female,one stem erect, 2 others horizontal. Much of the trunk now missing, the ground level girth is a better guide to its age. It could once have been larger. 16′ 11” @40cm but 19′ 7”/5.97m at ground level’.
August 2008 – Hugh Milner: I inspected the tree with Jonathan Rau, Woodland Officer with Hampshire County Council. Our inspection shows a self-set elder has grown from close to the base of the yew for some 25 years and a younger but planted maple nearby are both interferring with the Yew’s welfare. The Tree Officer with Eastleigh Borough Council, owners of the former churchyard, will be doing work in the area shortly and will be addressing these matters. Speaking to me recently, a local 78 year old man remembers the tree clearly as a four year old. In the 1960’s he remembers the tree either lying on or being supported by an iron post and that the tree was reputed to be of 11th century origin. Yesterday, a 60 year old local lady directed me to what in her youth was referred to as ‘The Witch’s Tree’.