On 08/04/15 12:42, Nick Maclaren wrote:

There are dozens of common plants that are at least as toxic as
yew, several that are much more toxic (I mentioned one), several
that are vegetables, and several that regularly cause accidental
human fatalities. Yet yew is singled out for demonisation. It's
total ********.

And yet it would irresponsible not to take it into consideration
depending on location.

I was not singling yew out - it happens to be one we're discussing -
merely pointing out that it's quite toxic. That may be a consideration
for the OP or whoever sees this post, especially if it''s in an area
with lots of small kids coming and going.

Is this "rights for yew day" or something?

I like yew to look at, but there are places I'd be less than happy to
proactively plant it.

On 08/04/15 12:28, David Hill wrote:
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.


Or was he trying a bit of very late family planning?

The circumstantial evidence is against that, but it had crossed my mind

In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:

There are dozens of common plants that are at least as toxic as
yew, several that are much more toxic (I mentioned one), several
that are vegetables, and several that regularly cause accidental
human fatalities. Yet yew is singled out for demonisation. It's
total ********.

And yet it would irresponsible not to take it into consideration
depending on location.

Possibly, but this is NOT a case where that applies.

I was not singling yew out - it happens to be one we're discussing -
merely pointing out that it's quite toxic. That may be a consideration
for the OP or whoever sees this post, especially if it''s in an area
with lots of small kids coming and going.

Yes, you are. Children do not munch on the leaves of yew - inter
alia, they are very bitter - and the fruit does not develop on
clipped hedges, so that is irrelevant. Would you suggest that a
safer alternative would be laurel or privet? Look THEM up.

The simple fact is that yew is way, WAY down the list of UK plants
that are dangerous to children, and your original claims were quite
simply ********. And known to be so.

Is this "rights for yew day" or something?

I object to people posting well-known falsehoods as authoritative
information.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote

Tim Watts wrote:
Spider wrote:
kev wrote:
We are planning to plant a hedge of Leylandii and will let them grow to
about 6-7'. What would be an ideal distance from the boundary 16-18"?

I confess I agree with the others: Leylandii and Lawsonii make good
masters but poor servants. You'd be better off planting a Yew hedge.
It's evergreen. It's one of the smartest hedges there is. It can be
clipped tightly without going brown.

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.

No, Hamlet is NOT a manual of toxicity, and that is complete and utter
hogwash. It's no more toxic than laburnum, monkshood and many other
garden plants, and less likely to be eaten than most. Human deaths
from it are essentially unknown, except for (rare) suicides. A quick
Web search found:

http://www.ancient-yew.org/s.php/fre...2#howpoisonous


Interesting link Nick, thanks.

Just been to see the Ankerwycke Yew and what is left of St Mary's Priory.
That yew is 26ft round and believed to be between 1400 and 2400 years old.
Why did I go to Ankerwycke, because some believe it is near the Priory that
the Magna Carta was signed, Runnymede Meadow is across the river, and there
are lots of things going on this year for it's 800 year anniversary.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On 07/04/15 22:42, Spider wrote:
On 06/04/2015 20:25, kev wrote:
We are planning to plant a hedge of Leylandii and will let them grow to
about 6-7'. What would be an ideal distance from the boundary 16-18"?


I confess I agree with the others: Leylandii and Lawsonii make good
masters but poor servants. You'd be better off planting a Yew hedge.
It's evergreen. It's one of the smartest hedges there is. It can be
clipped tightly without going brown.

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.


Yes, I agree with that. Browsing animals have been found dead under yew
trees (esp. goats) and the berries are toxic (except to birds). I wouldn't
risk a yew hedge if there was a chance of a child eating a berry.

Maybe a beech of some sort which does not lose its leaves even when they
die off - or hornbeam?

A beech hedge is a great idea.

Talking about yews, I have a little self-seeded one that is only about 6-8
inches high. I don't want to keep it but am reluctant to discard it. Any
ideas? I thought about talking to the local vicar as we don't seem to have
one in our churchyard and selling him the idea of "it's traditional to have
a yew tree in a churchyard, you don't have one, and I do. I would like to
make a gift of this small yew to the church"
Do you think that might work?
Or would anyone like to bonsai it?
I don't have to make an emergency decision as it will be only about an inch
or so bigger next year. Some churchyards yews are over a thousand years
old.

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On 08/04/15 08:58, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Tim Watts wrote:
On 07/04/15 22:42, Spider wrote:
On 06/04/2015 20:25, kev wrote:
We are planning to plant a hedge of Leylandii and will let them grow
to
about 6-7'. What would be an ideal distance from the boundary 16-18"?

I confess I agree with the others: Leylandii and Lawsonii make good
masters but poor servants. You'd be better off planting a Yew hedge.
It's evergreen. It's one of the smartest hedges there is. It can be
clipped tightly without going brown.

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.

No, Hamlet is NOT a manual of toxicity, and that is complete and utter
hogwash. It's no more toxic than laburnum, monkshood and many other
garden plants, and less likely to be eaten than most. Human deaths
from it are essentially unknown, except for (rare) suicides. A quick
Web search found:

I resent that. I haven't even read Hamlet...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxus_baccata#Toxicity

I give you human deaths are indeed rare, but it is most certainly toxic,
except the berry flesh.

I'm with you, Tim.

"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...
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. Didn't do me any harm

OK, the bits were the red "berry pith", and fortunately I
avoided eating the actual hard seed.


What?? Your father gave you yew berries to eat? Why? Was he trying to
kill you?
Why did he give you yew berries to eat? My mother would not ever done such
a thing and I am struggling to believe you.

On 09/04/2015 17:47, Christina Websell wrote:
"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On 07/04/15 22:42, Spider wrote:
On 06/04/2015 20:25, kev wrote:
We are planning to plant a hedge of Leylandii and will let them grow to
about 6-7'. What would be an ideal distance from the boundary 16-18"?


I confess I agree with the others: Leylandii and Lawsonii make good
masters but poor servants. You'd be better off planting a Yew hedge.
It's evergreen. It's one of the smartest hedges there is. It can be
clipped tightly without going brown.

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.


Yes, I agree with that. Browsing animals have been found dead under yew
trees (esp. goats) and the berries are toxic (except to birds). I wouldn't
risk a yew hedge if there was a chance of a child eating a berry.

Maybe a beech of some sort which does not lose its leaves even when they
die off - or hornbeam?

A beech hedge is a great idea.

Talking about yews, I have a little self-seeded one that is only about 6-8
inches high. I don't want to keep it but am reluctant to discard it. Any
ideas? I thought about talking to the local vicar as we don't seem to have
one in our churchyard and selling him the idea of "it's traditional to have
a yew tree in a churchyard, you don't have one, and I do. I would like to
make a gift of this small yew to the church"
Do you think that might work?
Or would anyone like to bonsai it?
I don't have to make an emergency decision as it will be only about an inch
or so bigger next year. Some churchyards yews are over a thousand years
old.



Why so much fuss about Yew.
It is the only hedging plant who's clippings have a value as they are
used to prepare an anti cancer drug.
The toxicity of the foliage increases as it wilts. Cattle and horses can
eat it fresh without to serious effect but when it's wilted and mixed in
with Hay that's when it gets really toxic.
A great hedge and well worth planting.
David @ a very sunny and warm side of Swansea Bay

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
cancer drug.
The toxicity of the foliage increases as it wilts. Cattle and horses can
eat it fresh without to serious effect


No.

but when it's wilted and mixed in
with Hay that's when it gets really toxic.

That's ragwort.

In article , david@abacus-
nurseries.co.uk says...


Why so much fuss about Yew.

The toxicity of the foliage increases as it wilts. Cattle and horses can
eat it fresh without to serious effect but when it's wilted and mixed in
with Hay that's when it gets really toxic.

You're completely wrong; it's fatal fresh or wilted.

from a specialist equestrian vet centre

http://poolhousevets.com/Equine/yew-tree-poisoning/

quote
"Yew trees are deadly poisonous to horses! They are so toxic that even
chewing on a single branch can (and frequently does) cause INSTANT
death. ...Most parts of the tree are toxic, except the bright red aril
surrounding the seed. The foliage remains toxic even when wilted.The
major toxin within the Yew is the alkaloid taxine. It is a cardiotoxin
and exerts it effects on the heart where it causes fibrillation and
acute cardiac arrest. There is no treatment."

Janet.

In article ,
Janet wrote:

"Yew trees are deadly poisonous to horses! They are so toxic that even
chewing on a single branch can (and frequently does) cause INSTANT
death. ...

Well, that's obvious crap. Horses are mammals, and the mammalian
digestive system just doesn't work that fast. Even anaphylactic
shock isn't instantaneous, following the cause.

That being said, horses are very delicate creatures, and it is
quite likely that they are very sensitive to yew. They are more
at risk from adder bite than humans, despite being up to ten times
the body mass.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 09/04/2015 19:53, Christina Websell wrote:
"David Hill" wrote in message
...
cancer drug.
The toxicity of the foliage increases as it wilts. Cattle and horses can
eat it fresh without to serious effect


No.

but when it's wilted and mixed in
with Hay that's when it gets really toxic.

That's ragwort.



It's also Yew.
Ragwort has a yellow flower quite different

In article ,
David Hill wrote:
On 09/04/2015 19:53, Christina Websell wrote:

The toxicity of the foliage increases as it wilts. Cattle and horses can
eat it fresh without to serious effect

No.

but when it's wilted and mixed in
with Hay that's when it gets really toxic.

That's ragwort.

It's also Yew.
Ragwort has a yellow flower quite different

Sigh. There are so many things wrong here that it's hard to know
where to start. Yes, ragwort and yew are very different. Yes,
they are both poisonous, especially to horses. No, not even those
thick animals (horses) will eat them when they are fresh, if
anything better is available, because they are very bitter. No,
they do not become more toxic when wilted. However, wilting does
make them less bitter, and getting them mixed up with hay will
get them eaten by accident so, yes, that is the main danger.

So the keys to safety are (a) to ensure that there is enough good
grazing in the field, (b) to not cut yew branches or cut down
ragwort and leave them in the field, and (c) to remove ragwort
before making hay. That's all.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Thu, 9 Apr 2015 21:30:41 +0100, Janet wrote:

You're completely wrong; it's fatal fresh or wilted.

from a specialist equestrian vet centre

http://poolhousevets.com/Equine/yew-tree-poisoning/

quote
"Yew trees are deadly poisonous to horses! They are so toxic that even
chewing on a single branch can (and frequently does) cause INSTANT
death. ...Most parts of the tree are toxic, except the bright red aril
surrounding the seed. The foliage remains toxic even when wilted.The
major toxin within the Yew is the alkaloid taxine. It is a cardiotoxin
and exerts it effects on the heart where it causes fibrillation and
acute cardiac arrest. There is no treatment."

Janet.


That's not correct. Yew poisoning is far from instant because some
taxine has to be absorbed or digested. Fluids, activated charcoal and
sodium bicarbonate have been used successfully for treatment with
humans. My wife worked in casualty for years and often was involved
with poisoning treatments for suicidals. Tricky business with a horse!

Steve

--
Neural Network Software for Windows http://www.npsnn.com

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