The ancient yew tree is located within a church yard near Taunton, Somerset. It is estimated to be somewhere in the region of 3,500 - 4,000 years old by experts which seems incredible when you consider this is a living organism. The reason trees such as yew can live so long is that its part of their survival strategy in that they invest heavily in defensive compounds known as phenols and grow at a slower rate as a trade off. Phenols are I suppose a bit like tree antibodies which are extremely toxic to micro organisms and so prevent colonisation. That said, some wood decaying fungi have developed specialist strategies to get around these defences. Read more about this amazing veteran tree at the following location:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3056953/Older-Stonehenge-Britain-s-oldest-tree-feared-dying-s-lived-FOUR-THOUSAND-years.html

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