New Visions of Yew

The yew (Taxus baccata) is much more than a 'churchyard tree'. Around the globe, botanists marvel on its many unique traits, eg its ability to live to a great age, and to start a new lease of life from almost complete decay. It grows roots from arching branches and adapts to climates as diverse as those of northern Britain and the Mediterranean. This needle-bearing tree isn't a conifer either! And its impact on human culture throughout the ages has been equally rich in surprises.

At the forefront of interdisciplinary yew research, the author elaborates on the botany and natural history of the yew as much as on the ancient traditions, myths and customs coming from a vast span of different cultures – the British Isles, Central Europe, Asia Minor and Japan. And every step of this amazing journey is illustrated with stunning photography by some of the greatest British tree photographers.

Fred Hageneder
New Visions of Yew
"Tree Archetype, World Tree, Guardian of the Planet"
A Monography of Taxus baccata L.
192 pages, full colour photography

Scheduled release: 2006