How Yew Trees Became Associated with Graveyards

Yew trees are found in hundreds of graveyards in England and carry a rich and macabre history. But why did this particular tree, one that the Romans believed grew in hell, come to be a symbol of death?

 Gravestones next to a yew tree (Taxus baccata). Photo by PeterBe on Pixabay.

Yew trees are a common sight in graveyards across Britain, with at least 500 churchyards in England being home to many which are older than the church itself. But what is the significance between yew trees and graveyards? Is it a coincidence? Or is there a more spiritual, sacred relationship between this species and the dead?

The folklore surrounding yew trees is incredibly rich, spanning many centuries, cultures, and religions. They are thought to be the longest-living species in Northern Europe, with 10 yews in Britain believed to predate the 10th century. In Celtic and Druidic history, yew trees were sacred, highly revered for their regenerative abilities and long life-span. The land they grew from became sites of worship, leading to the belief that graveyards were intentionally placed where yew trees had already grown, cementing the relationship between spirituality, the dead, and nature.

Yews are also extremely poisonous to livestock, spurring another theory that they were intentionally planted in churchyards to stop ‘commoners’ grazing their cattle on church ground. For centuries yew branches were buried with the deceased, as well as carried on Palm Sunday and at funerals, further strengthening the tree’s association with the dead. It is also thought that they were planted on Plague victims’ graves during the Black Death to purify the air from vapours and smells released from the bodies.

However, it is not just the spiritual importance that humans have given these trees that make them so revered. Throughout history, yews have simultaneously held the ability to cause death and preserve life. Found in Clacton-on-Sea in 1911, one of the oldest man-made weapons is a spearhead made from yew, with a whopping age of 400,000 years old. Yew appears to have been an incredibly popular material to use in historic weaponry, with archaeologists finding 137 yew longbows on the Tudor warship, Mary Rose. As well as its wood being used to craft lethal weapons, yew tree leaves contain enough toxins to make a child severely ill, and its seeds and bark are also poisonous to humans.

Despite its toxicity, the poisonous taxane alkaloids found in the foliage of Pacific yews are used in anti-cancer medication. Though this discovery put Pacific yews at risk of mass logging, scientists in the 1990’s were able to synthesise its anti-cancer property, paclitaxel, avoiding what could have been a devastatingly widespread extraction of the Pacific yew. Healing properties can also be found in yew berries which can be used to treat ailments such as headaches and cystitis. These berries also feed birds, small mammals, and, due to the density of its branches, yews provide wildlife a protective habitat all year round.

Photo by Padre_moovi on Unsplash.

Some of Britain’s oldest yews are located in Scotland, Surrey, Cumbria, and one particularly spooky example lies in Pembrokeshire. In the churchyard of St Brynach’s Church, the ‘Bleeding Yew of Nevern’ constantly exudes a red, blood-like sap from its bark. Many stories exist surrounding the reasoning behind this phenomena, one belief being that the yew bleeds for the wrongful hanging of a monk. Another belief follows that the yew will continue to bleed until a Welshman sits on the throne of Nevern Castle. With sights like this, it is no surprise that the yew tree has adopted a mystical reputation!

Yew trees provide a fascinating juxtaposition to the graveyards they live within, a place where the dead go to rest. These trees are evergreen, meaning their foliage remains green all year round, even in the harshest of conditions. A hollow yew can also regenerate itself by producing new roots from its centre, strengthening and prolonging its own survival. Drooping branches, once touching the ground, can also root and form new trunks, making yews a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. Therefore, as the seasons change, the yew remains the same, an imposing yet comforting presence in its constancy. This ancient tree has been used to slay enemies in battle, spur life-changing developments in modern medicine, and act as a vital habitat for various species of wildlife, thus rightfully maintaining a sacred status across history.

Overall, the culturally rich history of the yew lends an explanation as to why this specific tree has come to be associated with graveyards. Yew trees remind us of the circle of life, being both a symbol of mortality and immortality. So, next time you find yourself in a churchyard, look around and see if you can find one of these ancient trees–odds are it has been there for centuries, if not millennia!

About the author:

Mia Dias Laia Spragg is an English Literature graduate from the University of York and Online Editor of WILD Magazine. She is passionate about sustainable living, animal rights, and writing about nature, culture, and music. Details of her experience and interests can be found on LinkedIn.