Wow what an amazing day - the people you met, cuppa tea and the map she printed off for you; kindness is everywhere. Grief is a journey I’ve been helping my wife with other last few years as she’s now lost both of her parents. I treasure mine, but know I have that journey ahead of me. Good to hear of Paul as always and your reflection on identity. The Tree - well that has its own story as you say seen empires rise and fall. This was truly a great film, walk and discussion, thanks Mark for taking us along and sharing this with us. ATB Mark.

Awesome video. I like it so much. Have a great time. Greetings. ~ Milan

Truly incredible to see the ancient Yew tree and to hear the story behind. Didn't know that the needles are poisonous. thanks for sharing this awesome upload Mark. Happy New Year!

Hi Mark, yes a massive forest and interestingly Mat mentioned the RAC rally and i have followed that about 20 odd years ago and have been to Radnor and Sweet lamb among other Welsh forests great days sleeping rough in cars LOL, ps nice photos cheers nigel

Enjoyed the video and chat Mark, what a tree that Yew is!

Hi Mark, just caught up with this one. Its a beautiful area, so green! Even in winter it was so green, cracking weather too. Seeing those dear at the end of that walk, lovely animals what a hi light and way to finish. The ancient abbey was interesting to see, I have never heard of it, amazing that it survived the reformation! How daft being challenged by those bikers when you're outside the boundary of a disused base! Jog on! lol ATB Adam

I've done many 'tree pilgrimages' in my time Mark but the proximity of yews to churchyards make them the best trips for me. One memorable one was to the famous yew at Much Marcle in your neck of the woods. I do eat the berries from time to time, they are pleasantly sweet. A few years back, at a churchyard in North Wales, a big old yew had had some of its lower branches sawn up into logs. I thought I'd take one home for the fire but in the end couldn't bring myself to burn it. It still sits on the window bottom at home. Great stuff and a happy New Year, Chris.

Very interesting Mark. Sorry to hear of your loss.

Mark, always really cool how you get chatting to people and that connections and kindness materialise👍 A lovely atmospheric morning with the mist. Love those old farm buildings and churches that you have over there. Trees are magical and to imagine that one has been there for thousands of years is just amazing. Powerful reflections on death and renewal and having to redefine life after loss❤ All the best for the year to come.

I love a good tree Mark, but oh, that building! Wonderful! And such a beautiful church, what a setting for a fabulous, fabulous tree. When I was at primary school, our sports day was dominated by an amazing giant redwood. They're fascinating, aren't they? And so photogenic. 4 trunks.... wow. I'm surprised there aren't photographers clamouring for access. Such tiny birds in such a huge tree. Great video, beautifully presented! That aside, your comments about grief and identity crisis are so poignant. I think this is possibly your best video. Here's to departed brothers my friend. Sue

Very nice sharing here enjoyed this have a fabulous weekend cheers 👉👉👍👍

I am always impressed by these signs of the past that always are speaking to us that way , and while hiking, it is so enjoyable 👍

Great video thanks - my old man grew up in Hunderton, but his parents came from Cascob - a few mins from wjere you are here. Even into the 70's folk around Presteigne lived in a different century.

Happy New Year Mark, all the best for this year and the years ahead, :-) - Arlene and family :-)

That really was like stepping back in time Mark. Discoed looks a lovely little place with the amazing 16th century house. Such charming character along with those old steps. The yew tree was something else. Incredible to think that's thousands of years old. Great little church too and yeah what a lovely sight when people exit it and see the tree. Well that was a cracking little exploration Mark, enjoyed as always. Happy New Year to you and all the best for 2025 👍

Always picking up little snippets of knowledge watching your vids, perhaps they will come in handy in pub quizzes one day :p hope you have a happy New Year Mark, take care outside!

Wow its amazing to think that this tree could have been around even before stonehenge was first constructed.

Its New Years Eve and i felt compelled to watch this again. As upsetting as it is, i needed to see and hear Marks voice again. Lots of tears every day but especially tonight. Always loved and so sadly missed ❤

Fantastic tree, you can see how big it is in the shot where you stand next to it. The biggest I can remember seeing was Anglesey near the Menai Bridge whilst walking The Wales Coast Path. Loved the walk, especially the house near the church. Happy New Year, Mark, All the best, Andy 👍

That is deep time mark if only it could talk what a tail the yew would tell! But what a bril quest to go see and feel this ancient wonder Really enjoyed mate have a great 2025 Mark 🤠👍🎉 Simon (The conversation on loss and its impact was touching and profound 🙏🏼)

Wow! That truly is mind-blowing, as you said. To try to imagine the life that has been and gone while the yew has continued to live on is just incredible! Let's hope it lives on for other generations to stand in awe of it! I'm really glad you found the strength and purpose to carry on after losing Paul. I would like to believe that it's Paul still living within you who refused to let you go too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings Mark and for showing us this fantastic specimen of survival! A great video. All the very best to you... here's to 2025 and the adventures it holds for us 😊

I’ve yet to give yew berries a try. I don’t fancy killing myself by mistake. It’s always nice to realize you are missing your map before you head out. Clay got himself lost on Christmas Eve. He sent an sos beacon on his SPOT, but the highway was closed for avalanche control. Some ice climbers found him before search and rescue got there, so all was fine in the end. It was a nerve racking few hours though. Beautiful site. I can see why the folks in Harry Potter use them for wands. I don’t think ours get nearly so old here (nor do out buildings).

Great tree buddy ,I know the area very well .also there's old one in a village called Bucknell outside the local pub .unusual markings

Good stuff Mark, another interesting video . Its amazing that some species of trees can live for 1000s of years . I like the old buildings are always nice to look at and visit. Nice of the girl in the club to print out some map sections for you Mark...All the best for 2025 mate ...cheers Stevie

It would be interesting to know who it was came up with the idea that the yew is 5000 years old. Grossly exaggerated estimates of the ages of yew trees were made in the 1970's by one Allen Meredith who managed to convince David Bellamy of the 'Tree Register' that his calculations were accurate. Subsequently well over a hundred churches hold certificates signed by Bellamy stating that the age of the yew trees in their churchyards pre-date Christianity. But the vast majority of yews were planted at the time of the building of the churches and the creation of the churchyards. They are also linked to early monasticism in Ireland and Wales. And they also were as marker trees for the Anglo-Saxon Hundred courts. The larger tree at Discoed has been estimated at 37ft in circumference so based on a rule of thumb calculation (30 years of growth for each foot of girth) we have an age of 1110 years. But if we plus or minus 5 feet for variation in growth we arrive at an age of between 1260 and 960 years (764AD - 1064AD) Which given that Discoed is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 would link the yew to the known history of the area. Now yews being yews the tree may be older - but some 4000 years older? See Jeremy Harte's on-line article 'How old is that old yew tree'. Also the Ancient Yew Group's website.

Another great video Mark. As you know I've done a video or two around the Elan Valley dams, I've spent many a day with my kids when they were younger, near those falls and paddling in the river... haven't yet spent any quality time with my camera there. The mountain pass road to Aberystwyth is spectacular...been there many times. I must put that on my video todo list. Thanks Mark 👍🏻

A figure at the door of the church was spooky as you mentioned cancer cures.

I'm glad to see the ankle, after such a long time, is coming good Mark. Nice hike, love the memory recap with the old cottage... It's such a shame the roof is failing, nature will consume quickly now. It looked like time had stood still last time you visited. See you out there Mark 👍🏼