Oldest yew

Two British yew trees (Taxus baccata) are vying for the position of the most ancient yew. The Fortingall Yew in Perthshire, Scotland, has been estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, with some reports it may be closer to 5,000 years of age. The Defynnog Yew in the Brecons village of Defynnog in Powys, Wales, has been estimated to be 4,000 years old, although other estimates suggest it is 2,000 to 3,000 years old. Tree-ring dating to compare the ages of both ancient churchyard trees may be unreliable due to the rotting of the trunk heartwood.

The yew is a highly poisonous plant species. Poisonous chemicals in yew trees include taxine alkaloids and their ingestion may alter heart function, cause dizziness, convulsions, abdominal pains, vomiting and even death.