Little Hereford

October 1997 – Tim Hills: The ancient yew grows on the south side, between the church and the river Teme. Girth of 16′ 10” (513cm) recorded around the base of both fragments. The photos show it in 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2016. In 1997 it was easy to see that this was a hollow tree that had split into two fragments. There were also signs that some of the tree had been burned. One of the fragments was a cut off stump with no sign of life, while from the other were many propped up spindly branches, being given every chance of survival.
By 2007 the spindly branches had been removed and replaced by vigorous growth. This has been maintained in 2013.
2016 – Paul Wood: Ivy covered about 90% of the outer bole and the inside of the northern part of the sawn off stump. The southern fragment, free of ivy, is the living part of this tree. I noted much cubical rot on the inside of the thin shell of living wood.
The 1997 photo shows a large number of long branches, which were propped at that time to prevent their weight from damaging or pulling over the bole fragment. Their removal, sometime between 1997 and 2007, has encouraged healthy bushy growth.