Factfile

Yew Trees in Church Yards

Yew Tree

Yew leaves are poisonous to animals; if yew was allowed to grow in the fields and the sheep ate it, the sheep would die. However, yew wood was used for constructing longbows and has been known for many thousands of years to have medicinal qualities. Yew trees were therefore grown in church yards so that the sheep and cattle couldn't eat it but it would be available for harvesting. A drug used for treating cancer is now produced from yew leaves.