In article , newspost-c-
says...

As mentioned sometime ago, we have some old topiary Yew in our garden.

One in particular is much to big (in width basically), it overgrows the
path too much (someone once has extended the path out to the side to get
round it), and anyway, the shape really isn't pleasing anymore.

We've decided that we need to cut it back fairly hard, to reduce the
size and to reshaped it into a simpler shape (maybe a cone or maybe a
'gherkin' type shape like another one in the garden).

Not sure when the best time will be for this - I'm thinking late winter,
before the new growth starts?

I have no idea whether there is a "right time" but we did a spot of chain
saw pruning on ours in winter about 20 years ago, took 2 years to look
right again but has been a lot easier to maintain and much more pleasing
to the eye since. The reason for our timing was we had Goldcrests which
nested every year in the yews and did not want to disturb them, they
spurned the pruned stumps the next year but have been back every year
there after.
My father reduced the cut wood after a few years seasoning to salt and
pepper mills and a rather nifty line in pens! so don't just burn it if
you have any chunky stuff, wood turners would be very grateful!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea