In Totteridge, in north London, there is a yew tree estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old. This tree, however, is a mere youngster in comparison with others of the species. The record in the UK is held by a yew in Scotland that is thought to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. However, such trees are becoming (28) INCREASE rare and the Totteridge specimen was considered of (29) SUFFICE importance to be named in 1999 as one of the 41 ‘great trees’ in London. Like many yews, the Totteridge tree (30) DOUBT predates the buildings around it and its exact age is unknown.

The Totteridge tree needs little (31) MAINTAIN. Some of its outer branches hang down so low that they have taken root. But this is part of the tree’s natural architecture and contributes to its (32) STABLE in high winds. With the best of (33) INTEND , ancient yew sites are often tidied up with no benefit to the tree. Dead branches are not (34) READY shed by the tree and their wood harbours a multitude of insects, an inseparable part of the old tree’s natural (35) DIVERSE. Something of the tree’s history is lost with the (36) REMOVE of dead wood. After all, the decaying, twisted and (37) ATTRACT parts give the tree character.