Yew Trees: Death, Churchyards, and Helpful Tools
<p>Back in November 2020, I explored the folklore of the yew tree; specifically, the common yew, or English yew (Taxus baccata).</p>
<p>Yes, it's a poisonous tree. Yes, it's linked with death. And yes, people like to say they pre-date the churchyards in which we find them.</p>
<p>But in the intervening six years, my library of sources has grown, so I wanted to see if there was anything more I could learn about them. They're my favourite tree, and I always love spotting them in parks and cemeteries. There's something deeply restful and reassuring about a yew tree.</p>
<p>My fascination with trees within ecosystems has also grown, so I wanted to explore the yew outside of folklore. How and why are these trees so cool and so different from other trees?</p>
<p>So let's explore their dendrology, their uses to humans, and yes, their links with death, before we meet some more famous yews in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore!</p>
<p>Find the blog post with all the images and references here: <a href="https://www.icysedgwick.com/yew-trees/" target="_blank">https://www.icysedgwick.com/yew-trees/</a></p>
<p>Listen to the earlier yew episode: <a href="https://www.icysedgwick.com/yew/" target="_blank">https://www.icysedgwick.com/yew/</a></p>
<p>Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: <a href="https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/" target="_blank">https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/</a></p>
<p>Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at <a href="https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595" target="_blank">https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595</a></p>
<p>Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: <a href="https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/" target="_blank">https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/</a></p>
<p>Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: <a href="https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick" target="_blank">https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick</a></p>
<p>Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore" target="_blank">https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore</a></p>
<p>Pre-recorded illustrated talks: <a href="https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop" target="_blank">https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop</a></p>
<p>Request an episode: <a href="https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7</a></p>
<p>Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at <a href="https://instagram.com/icysedgwick" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/icysedgwick</a></p>
<p>Find Icy on BlueSky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social</a></p>
<p>'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/</a></p>
