Comments on: Trees: Yew

By: Lizzie Harper

Lizzie Harper — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:43:06 +0000

In reply to Bill Naylor. Hi Bill This is completely fascinating, I had no idea. I know some animals eat yew, but the nuances of it are really interesting. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

By: Bill Naylor

Bill Naylor — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 17:41:16 +0000

It’s believed there is a mild toxin in the fruit. Studies of birds visiting yew, found birds of difference species limited the amount of fruits they swallowed. And drank profusely afterwards. Some birds, hawfinch, greenfinch,demolish the seed swallowing it. Others swallow the extremly hard seed whole & it passes through the digestive system. Even the gizzards of large birds & stomachs of badgers. Other birds seperate the seed from the fruit & discard it before swallowing the fruit. Evidence is fruit pulp found on walls and branches.Why a wide range of animals feed on yew (berries and leaves) and yet are apparently unaffected by the toxins is little understood.

By: Tad Piesakowski

Tad Piesakowski — Fri, 19 May 2023 17:26:57 +0000

I acknowledge the toxicity of yew. The foliage is poisonous even when dry and people were supposedly poisoned by produce stored in yew barrels but I think your concernsl about the aril flesh is unfounded – I’ve even made wine out if it.

By: Lizzie Harper

Lizzie Harper — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 07:15:23 +0000

In reply to Peter Little. Thanks so much Peter, things all good here. Plenty of work but not too much, and sparrows in amongst the wild flowers I can see from my studio window.

By: Peter Little

Peter Little — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 19:25:25 +0000

Hi Lizzie, wonderful and informative as usual. Hope all is well there.

Regards Peter