Can a 300-year-old yew survive France’s changing climate?

A reader has contacted The Connexion for advice about an ancient yew tree in his garden in Dordogne which has suffered damage following recent periods of extreme heat. 

Tony Lasserre estimated that the yew is around 300 years old. The tree has a circumference of 3.6m, measured at the standard forestry height of 1.3m above the ground, which gives a diameter of approximately 1.15m. 

These measurements are consistent with a yew tree of between 250 and 400 years old, depending on growing conditions. 

Based on the fact that Mr Lasserre’s tree grew in open ground, rather than in woodland, with space to develop naturally, he believes it is around 300 years old. 

However, not too long ago Mr Lasserre noticed that the tree showed increasing signs of stress. 

“The side facing the house was all green and wonderful,” he told The Connexion. “But when I looked at the other side, which you don’t normally see, it was all burnt, brown and dry.”

This is when he decided to look for expert advice in order to save his tree. "The first person who came looked at it and said: 'It's dead, just cut it down,'" he said. 

However, a second opinion from an adviser at a local walnut cooperative gave him hope. 

"'No, you need to save that,' she told me," he said. "She knew more about it than the so-called expert."

Mr Lasserre has since been researching how best to care for veteran yews.

Up until now, he has removed only the branches that were already dead and plans to gently loosen the soil around the edge of the root area so that air and water can reach the roots more easily, while avoiding any disturbance close to the trunk.

He is also using water from a nearby lake rather than the mains supply and is letting it soak slowly into the ground around the outer edge of the tree's root system.

To help protect the tree during hot weather, he also intends to spread wood chips and leaf mould around the roots to keep the soil cool.

He is even considering whitewashing the trunk and the branches most exposed to the afternoon sun, a technique commonly used on walnut trees to reflect heat.

"What I don't want to do is force it into new growth," he said. "This ancient survivor needs less stress, not a burst of artificial growth."

Mr Lasserre believes the recent heatwaves are largely responsible for the damage.

"It's all to do with climate change," he said. "The hottest afternoon sun hits that side of the tree. Had it not been for that, there wouldn't be a problem."

Although he believes the tree can recover, he is still hoping to hear from an expert in veteran yews.

"I'd hate to lose a tree that has stood here for three centuries simply because I failed to give it the care it deserved," he said.

If any readers have experience with veteran yews, or know of specialists who could advise on caring for an ancient tree in a changing climate, they can contact The Connexion at feedback@connexionfrance.com