On 08/04/2015 11:18, Tom Gardner wrote:
On 08/04/15 09:46, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Wed, 08 Apr 2015 09:39:07 +0100, Tom Gardner
wrote:

On 08/04/15 02:08, Tim Watts wrote:
Although yew is exceptionally toxic to humans which might be a
consideration. OK
there's lots of plants you don't go eating, but yew is quite a bad
boy in that
respect.

My father gave me bits of yew to eat.

Why?

Yes, I've occasionally wondered that

The most accurate answer is, probably, "because we saw it on a walk,
and he had eaten bits as a child". He always was a /little/ dismissive
of /excessive/ health and safety, preferring that I learned to recognise
and avoid hazards.


Your father was very sensible. My father also invited me to eat the
flesh of a yew berry, but leave the seed. I trusted him and ate the
flesh, then discarded the seed. I knew my father was a very
knowledgeable gardener, plantsman and countryman, plus he would never
have risked my life on a whim. From being very tiny I was taught not to
eat any plant or berry that was not served to me with proper guidance.
All children should be taught those very simple rules that will preserve
their life.
Yew hedging is not ideal as a barrier in a livestock farm because cattle
may be inclined to eat it, but it's excellent as a hedge/screen/barrier
in a garden.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay