Exploring an ancient Yew forest. Wild camping fun without synthetics.

[@pedrothewise2584]

Yew is a beautiful timber makes my planer tremble just seeing those old beauties

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Pedro. Ha ! Hope your planer recovers - tell it I know the feeling 😳 ….😂🤣😂🤣

[@61shotbeehive]

Brilliant! Love what you do

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you as always Cloud Nectar- appreciated 😊

[@theirishoutdoorcook1207]

Gill I absolutely love the crom Yew trees. I’m not afraid of them and would camp beside them given half the chance. A brother and sister yew trees that are grown in NI are said to be 800 years old. The smaller Yews are female that grow upright and bare fruit and are known as trees of the Celtic saints. The English Fortingall yew is said to be 2,000 and 3,000 years old. I would very much love to see that ancient tree in the flesh. Weeping Willows and the crom yew trees are my absolute favourite. Thank you Gills, wonderful video.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much indeed The Irish Outdoor Cook. Appreciate you watching and making this very interesting comment. Glad you like these trees - they are full of character and ooze age and history. But you are braver than me to sleep under one 😳 …. 🤣😂🤣😂 Cheers and take care 🌲👍

[@theirishoutdoorcook1207]

@@gilesbinyon you’re very welcome. It was very enjoyable to view. You’re definitely one of these unique captivating ‘original’ content creators on KZbin. Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Looking forward to autumn with less midgets. 😂😂😂

[@catherinewalks1207]

Those yews. I approach them with respect. Their most poisonous parts give us taxanes, a potent cancer inhibitor. Somehow knowing this only enhances their association both with long life and death - what a mysterious tree. The yew also gives dye colours from soft pinks to deep, rich browns along with all its other uses. Thank you for pausing to talk and think about them and for taking us out into countryside that seems to be breathing a bit easier now the rain has come.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Catherine - really enjoyed this comment. I agree it is a wonderfully mysterious tree and its appearance just seems to add to this mystique. I didn’t realise it could provide so many dye colours. More rain today but a lot more required methinks. Have a lovely few more days before the new term starts. Take care 😊👍

[@HobbiesAndSunshine]

Very interesting about the longbow and the levies. I'm off camping tomorrow and will take inspiration from your style of camp. Brilliant as always. Thank you Giles.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you kindly Michaela - appreciated and wishing you a great camp ⛺️🌲😊👍

[@BrianthatiscalledBrian]

Thank Yew, Giles. 👍😉

[@gilesbinyon]

Yew’re welcome Brian 🌲🌲🌲😊👍

[@robynmarler3839]

Gorgeous video! Great to see you tackling your very unique issue with yew trees.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Robyn. Very kind of you to watch and make that comment. All things in nature have their wonderful role to play 🌲🌲🌲👍

[@ultraruna]

Brilliant Giles, exactly why your videos are so enjoyable, some history ( but not a lecture) and wonderful scenery. The yew trees sit so well in the ancient landscape around you, they look timeless. Thanks once again Giles.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much as always ultrarunner. I agree, these trees really add to the landscape in so many ways. This and their longevity creates an magical atmosphere 🌲🌲🌲😊 Thx so much for watching and commenting 👍

[@Standswithabeer]

i like your "tumble-down barrier".

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers very much 👍 And thx for watching it and commenting too 😊

[@mumsgonecamping8666]

The thumbnail alone set the scene, beautiful again Giles.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you Mums Gone Camping. Glad you liked. Take care 😊👍

[@tannahill9309]

.... Early bird this morning! ..... Enjoyed that. ... You're right about yew IMO. ... They're a bit creepy! .... Far better to bunk down among the Hazel, they give you plenty of protection & chunks aren't likely to drop off & squash you!👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Tannahill - appreciate you watching and commenting - and so early in the morning !!! 😳🤣😂 Cheers 😊

[@martynjones7824]

Thumbs up again Giles ! I think yew trees have such a magical aura about them.. they seem to store the faces of lost souls ( as do beech trees ). I'm convinced I am being watched when I'm out amongst them.... 👀... Thanks for sharing 👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you Martyn. You are spot on with what you say. These trees do seem alive with faces (of lost souls 😳). And, now to think of it, you’re right, some knarley old beeches can be similar. Cheers 🌲👍

[@scottroberts7875]

Thank you ,for once again sharing your calming walks and wild camping with us .Taxus Baccata, was thought to keep evil away ,hence its churchyard use, and indeed as one of subscribers indicated has cancer inhibitors properties, the Pacific North west variety Taxus Brevifolia has been used in Hodgkinsons Lymphoma. since early90's Truly remarkable native tree.ATVB2U Scott Somerset

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Scott. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and make that interesting comment. Yeah, the potential use with cancer just adds to this fascinating tree. And hopefully makes more and more people raise their respect for nature. Thx again Bud 🌲👍

[@darrenstutton9446]

Excellent as ever. Looking forward to getting out myself just recovering from the dreaded lurgy and even trekking upstairs is a chore :(

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Darren. Always appreciate you watching and commenting. Wishing you a very speedy recovery from this damn virus. Good luck Bud 👍

[@northernembersoutdoors1045]

Hello Giles. Nice chicken of the woods at the start, I have eaten it before and it;s pretty nice. You're right every part of a yew tree is poisonous, the roots, stems, leaves etc...apart from the red berry which is edible as you said. But you have to squeeze the seed out as it's poisonous too. I have eaten many yew berries. Very sweet, but also quite gooey, sticky, but I like them all the same. I think it's worth it if you like wild food, always good to have that knowledge. Near me is the Fortingall Yew, said to be the oldest in Britian at 9000 years old. It has done what you said, died on the inside and then lives on the outside. It's fairly big! Taxus baccata, well there you go...learned something about why it's called that😎. I heard you no problem in this one relating to a lower comment. What is that twig stove called please. That was a beast of a toasted sandwhich, very nice sir, have you tried applewood vegan cheese, it's amazing, cheers.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much as always Chris. Appreciate your support Bud. I’ve never had chicken of the woods - I deffo need to take in more wild edibles. Not sure I would go for the aril flesh tho 😳 - although sounds nice from what you say 🍒Yeah, I have heard of the Fortingall Yew - must be an amazing visit 😊 Thx for the heads-up on the audio Mate - appreciate that cos I never feel quite sure how things upload/come out etc This is the Vargo stove/fire pit. It usually comes with a grill but (like this one) can be obtained without it. Think carefully about it Bud - it’s very little sheet metal for a lot of money. It is titanium. But I had to fashion a clip to hold the forth side in place otherwise it splays out under slight load. I also added more ventilation (via cobalt drill bit) although this may be me customising it for use as a small fire pit as opposed to (I think) it’s original purpose of providing hot coals for a grill. Looking forward to catch-up on your latest (2 I think !) Thx again Buddy 😊👍

[@seanmurphy6139]

Love this video. It's exactly what I like to see, just the basics. After I watched it I was thinking, there's something missing in that video, then I realised, you weren't selling anything.

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers Sean, really appreciate you watching and making that really nice comment. Yeah, it does seem that companies are quick to start offering stuff ….Cheers 😊👍

[@tweedyoutdoors]

What a beautiful spot! ...and beautifully shot. I know what you mean about yew trees being a bit sinister - I think they're beautiful, magical even, but they're also sort of other worldly... Or maybe it's the fact they're the one thing in many woodlands which is meant to be there which makes them somehow look out of place? I enjoyed the history and the yew facts. A great bit of YewTube!

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much for your support Mr TO. Yeah, amazing trees in stunning surroundings. Absolutely bea-yew-tiful 😉 Cheers 🌲🍷🍷

[@mountainmantararua8824]

Like watching these videos, no hype or dramas, just good old camping and some clever ideas. None of the latest model of this or that, no bright colours, no gourmet foods, just honest to goodness nosh. After 50+ years in the mountains of NZ I can truly say I like his style. Good on yer mate. ATB Cheers from the mountains of NZ 😀😀

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Mountainman, those are very nice words and mean a lot coming from 50 years experience of the NZ mountains - appreciated. Yeah, I try to get by with just a few robust, reliable and maintained bits of kit. Cheers 🍺🍺🇳🇿

[@mountainmantararua8824]

@@gilesbinyon Hello again Giles, Type in Tararua Range NZ and you will see my stomping ground. Off for 4 days soon into the wild blue yonder, the wild mountains of NZ . I think that you would like them. Cheers

[@gilesbinyon]

Wishing you great camping Bro ⛺️🌲🍺😊👍

[@sarahsue42]

Yews are associated with death,rebirth and the underworld in the older pre Christian worldview..churches and graveyards were often constructed on sites containing yew trees rather than the other way round. Loved the yew forest, thanks for the video

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Sarah. Yes, I have heard about these things too. I’ve also been told that they were planted near water sources too. Amazing tree. Thx again, take care 👍

[@BourneOutside]

Blimey, that was interesting regarding the word ‘tax’ and where it derived from, Giles. The Yew trees are mesmerising to me. The beast where I have camped with Jim-Bob and MDM is humongous. Deer ❤️ Good idea on that fire guard you know! Where did you get that butter knife? It spreads lovely 😉 I could eat that toasted sarnie right now 🤤 Good to see you out again and sharing your adventure with us all. Have a good week, Giles. Tim 👋🏼😉👍🏼

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers Tim, always a pleasure to make comms and thx for watching and commenting Bud. Yeah, agree - Yews are amazing aren’t they. Yeah, the special occasion silver service butter knife….well I just grabbed it from the draw on my way out - I can do that see, cos I wear the trousers in my house …… 🤥….🤣😂🤣😂 Keep well and have a great week yourself Mate 🍺😊👍

[@BourneOutside]

@@gilesbinyon Hahaha, I love reading your replies, Giles 🤣 I wear the trousers in my house too. But when she says jump… 😁 Keep well my friend and please accept my apologies for the late response. 😊

[@janeseacombe9078]

Thankyou for your videos Giles.I love em.... always looking forward to the next one.Great stuff 👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Jane. Appreciate you watching them and thanks for those lovely words. Take care 👍

[@fredachapinthewillows9518]

Thanks for sharing the video! Thanks for the interesting information on historical facts. Did you know that Ötzi's ax has a yew handle? The metal blade is made of copper. The age is estimated at 5300 years. His 1.83 cm unfinished bow is also made of yew. The old yew trees you showed us look really gnarled. I like these trees.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Fred - appreciate you watching and commenting. No, I didn’t know that about Otzi ‘s axe or indeed his bow. Thank you, it shows the usefulness of Yew wood to man for thousands of years 😊👍

[@TheTerryMarsh1]

Another great video, with some fascinating history, thanks Giles. I did not realise that yews are so toxic. I guess extra care is needed when working with the wood. In the UK, we don't have to worry about being attacked by wild animals: no bears or wolves and hardly any poisonous snakes.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks as always Terry. Ha! Yeah, better poisonous trees than (too many) poisonous snakes and dangerous animals - I guess !!! Thx again, take care 👍

[@jonhughes4550]

Glad to see you out again Giles. I really enjoy the bits of local history in all your videos. The Roman roads, the burial mounds, war relics. I did not know that ewe trees was so toxic. Thanks for another great video. Cheers

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you Jon - always appreciate you watching and commenting. Glad you like the history bits - this country is just loaded with history - natural and man made 😊👍

[@moorshound3243]

I'm with you dude, I'm not a Yew tree fan, when people ask me to do some work for them using yew I just say no I don't like working with it, just feels weird is all. People don't seem to go on feelings anymore but it is important. Do you ever practice fire with flint & steel?

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much. Always appreciate your support. Interesting to hear you would rather not work with this wood. Actually I don’t use a flint and steel even though I think it’s a fascinating way to make fire and is one step closer to a natural way compared to the ferro rod. I think I am being a bit lazy in that respect. Thx again 😊👍

[@Bob-67]

There were some very spooky faces in those trees. I will probably have nightmares later thanks to yew ;o)

[@gilesbinyon]

Ha ha !!! Thanks Bob - maybe I should get into making horror movies 😂🤣😂🤣 Cheers 👍

[@RavinCarper]

10 minutes drive from mine. Me and my family love walking these ways.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much for watching Matt. And glad you all can enjoy this area on a regular basis 😊🌲👍

[@JohnSmith-df4vb]

Wistman's Woods On Dartmoor used to give me the creeps, lol.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much John. Sounds like Wistman’s Woods may contain a lot of Yew 😳 Cheers 😊👍

[@TJ_into_the_wild]

Another hugely enjoyable vid, Giles - thank you! Really enjoyed hearing more about the Yew tree and its history with the longbow and I'll never tire of watching your camp routines and you setting up your shelter! I was at The Wilderness Gathering in Wiltshire at the weekend and was chatting with friends about your fantastic channel. We all agreed that it's the best thing out there. Keep going - you're practically a public service now!

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much indeed - as always. And yourself and your friends are very kind but I’m sure I don’t deserve such high praise. I bet yous guys get up to much more amazing adventures and camping techniques - only difference is I switch on the phone camera and film a bit and then upload !!! Hoping you all had a fantastic time at the Wilderness Gathering. Cheers 👍

[@WiltshireMan]

Nice camp Giles, the year is moving on fast. I have eaten Yew berries and spat out the pip. Eat at your own risk! Also have worked a lot with Yew wood, it is a beautiful wood. Yes very toxic

[@gilesbinyon]

You are a brave man to eat the whole and trust to spit out the pip 😳 !!! I would probably get distracted and swallow the lot 🤪!!! Yeah, where is the time going. It gets quicker the older one gets - it’s almost in overdrive for me 🤣 Yew seems a really hard wood when it is seasoned, you must have good tools to deal with it. I watched you at work on the video when your partner hurt herself - a beautiful finish to your work. Thanks for watching and making that comment Sandy. Take care, keep safe 🍺🍺👍

[@oferbechor1579]

THANK YOU Giles dear friend - yours videos are very poetic It makes me feel good to watch them 👣🌲🌲🌲

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Ofer. Glad you liked it and thanks for such a very nice comment too Cheers 👍

[@DaveGoodman1959]

Hi there, new subscriber and first watch. Now I'm not into the bushcraft stuff but who can fail to find you interesting. A proper adventure. TFS Cheers 🍻

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much for watching and subscribing Dave. Glad you found this one interesting. Cheers 🌲🍺🍺👍

[@tourcheverybridge]

Not going to say it….. but you know I am thinking it Giles…😂😂🎼🤣

[@gilesbinyon]

Ha ha !!! I nearly left the volume on ‘low’ but at the last minute remembered what you have been saying - so I CRANKED it right UP 🎵🎵🎵🤣😂🤣😂

[@jamesellsworth9673]

You are a wiry, rapid, longer-distance walker! I could not maintain that pace at my best. Thanks for showcasing the ancient Yew forest!

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much for taking time to watch and comment James. Sometimes I go a bit too quickly especially during the hot weather and get a bit worn out/dehydrated 🥵 Cheers 😊👍

[@stevenkreitlow8349]

Giles, your last two videos are the only ones I haven’t watched yet. Looking forward to them. Those yew trees are really kind of weird looking. I can see why legends grew up around them. No pun intended. Well, maybe just a little. I thought that was the wood used for the English longbows. Quite a weapon for its time. We have several evergreen bushes in our yard that are yew bushes. The bark, needles and the way they grow is similar to the yew trees you have. Thanksgiving here tomorrow. Turkey 🦃 and all the fixings. Probably already tomorrow over there. You have a good day 🍻 Cheers my friend.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much as always Steven. Yeah, a wonderful and rather charismatic tree the Yew. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family 🇺🇸😊

[@stevenkreitlow8349]

@@gilesbinyon Thank you Giles. Much appreciated. You are a good person. 😉

[@adrianhyde]

Hi again Giles, wonderful to see another video of yours up so soon. Some great angles and viewpoints in this video, and a gorgeous part of the world. It looked like thoroughly pleasant weather, too. You certainly seemed to be in your element here, back amongst the trees and with a healthy glow after so much time spent outdoors in the recent sunny days. There were some grand old yews there, and so many about! I've heard they were the original winter solstice tree, with gleaming gold and silver offerings hung in its branches. It was very interesting hearing about the longbows. I think when they investigated the Mary Rose longbow staves they realised they were at least twice as powerful as they'd previously thought. I do a bit of archery myself, and my homemade longbow is less than a quarter of their draw-weight! I don't practice anywhere near enough :) I really liked this video, it had a very summery and a sort of warm, balmy atmosphere. The lightplay and camerawork came together very nicely. It made me wish I was there, bathing in that light and walking in those hills. By the way, thanks for the lovely reply to my comment on your last video. You were absolutely right about the treasured memories created. Thankyou so much for continuing to make these very enjoyable and, I would say, therapeutic videos. They really do help to bring a bit of the wandering and exploring, peaceful, nature-watching atmosphere and the spirit of the wild camp into my life at times when I can't get out very far myself. Cheers mate, and good luck for your next outing! Take care 🌳

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks so much once again Adrian. Lovely to hear from you and thank you for taking time to watch and make such a kind comment. I don’t deserve such kind words. Glad you made some precious memories and hoping you get the chance to make some more before the holiday period ends completely. Interesting to hear about your bow. After this video the comments seem to show that there is great interest in archery, including homemade bows. I hope you get the chance to get out again soon too. Maybe even take your camera/phone camera for your channel. Yeah, it’s nice to get back in the woods but with the shorter days and the forest canopy I completely forgot how much darker it is compared to being out in the open !!! Anyway Buddy, keep safe and take care 🌲😊👍

[@adrianhyde]

@@gilesbinyon Thanks, Giles, though I think that the very many complimentary comments here show that you do actually very much deserve to recieve the kind words! :)

[@gilesbinyon]

@@adrianhyde thx Mate - you’re too kind tho. Cheers 🍺🍺

[@evanpatev9742]

Hello Giles, I just wanted to say I appreciate your videos. I personally have been moving away from outdoors gear trends in favor of more durable gear with less synthetic fibers. It is something important to me as a graduate student studying the widespread pollution of microplastics throughout our environment and lives. Your emphasis on history and nature is also an important reason why I enjoy the outdoors so much.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Evan, appreciate that. It is worrying just where these micro plastics are starting to appear. Seems they have infiltrated nearly every part of the natural world. Keep up the studies 👍

[@craiglake6091]

I could watch your videos all day long Giles. The history, the land, the animals and the wonderful trees. Thank you Giles.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Craig. Such kind words - but I don’t deserve. Glad you enjoy the vids tho and thx for watching them 😊👍

[@frankcoveney6222]

I used to go caving in the Forest of Dean and I was told that Yew trees like iron ore deposits. The Forest has had iron mines for centuries and the Yew trees were a good starting point when looking for a new seam.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Frank. Appreciate you watching and that interesting comment which I have not heard about before. Cheers👍

[@LundysWildcampBushcraft]

Nicely done Giles some interesting information about the trees I didn't know it's good finally get some rain as everything was pretty dry great idea with the fire guard atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers Jimmy. Always appreciate your support Buddy. Yeah, rain at last ! Hope your thumb is okay. Cheers 👍

[@LundysWildcampBushcraft]

@@gilesbinyon good as new mate thanks 👍👍

[@eportwild1670]

Brilliant Giles,great scenery and toastie 👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much. Always appreciated Eport Wild - cheers 🥪🥪👍

[@JD-hp8qn]

I think you nailed that camp with the plough point next to the fallen tree, chance encounter with the deer and the toasted sarnie. 👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much for taking time to watch and comment J D. Appreciated 😊👍

[@xXTRISTANXx]

i just learned so many things in half an hour. thanks very much, great video :)

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you - appreciate you watching and commenting. Glad you got something from it too 😊👍

[@jessicapayne8622]

I love yew trees! Older than Stonehenge I believe. Got some in my local graveyard. Very scared and spiritual part of olde Briton x

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Jessica - always great to hear your comments. I think you summed up the Yew very well - ‘scary and spiritual’ ! Yes, they are amazing trees. Take care 😊👍

[@jessicapayne8622]

@@gilesbinyon you will always find yew trees in graveyards/churchyards and places where bodies are laid To rest. It’s a pagan thing and due to the woarrrrs with the French, yew Trees were planted even more in churchyards as they were pretty much guaranteed not to be cut down illegally. I’m sure it was illegal at some point to cut them down/chop off branches. If i am wrong I apologise. Just what I remember being told when I was younger!

[@brianharvey4868]

Hi Giles. Great videos and lovely to see you. Really like the setup. I'm doing the Coast to Coast next year. You should come. 😛

[@gilesbinyon]

Hey Mate ! Great to hear from you and I hope you are doin’ good. Just recovering from ‘Jon has a go at office work’ on your channel !!! Haven’t laughed so much for a long time Buddy. Really hope I get the chance to show it to some of the boys - they will p**s themselves 🤣😂 When are you doing the coast to coast Bud ?

[@RobertsBulgaria]

Another very enjoyable video. Still too hot and too dry to risk open fires here, but yours was a very responsible fire. No beers or tipples in this episode.

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers Robert. I was expecting you to say that one of them real old Yews was my doppelgänger !!! 😂🤣😂🤣 Cheers Buddy, hope yous guys get a bit of rain soon 🤞

[@RobertsBulgaria]

@@gilesbinyon Yew know that I wood NEVER be so rude or go out on a limb to suggest that you were a knotted old gnarled thing that belonged in a churchyard. 😉🤦‍😜👀😂

[@jamesbailand4311]

Bow draw weights are still to this day given in lbs, not kilos. The draw weight on those staves is often sighted but often misunderstood. Those staves in all likelihood were rough spare staves ready to be made/fitted to an archer that needed a new bow. Meaning the final draw weight would have been less than the up to 200lbs often quoted from those staves.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much James. Appreciate you watching and especially that interesting comment. I should imagine you are right in that the relics brought up with the Mary Rose would not be the finished product - and thus the final draw weights would not be certain. Cheers 👍

[@barryhannon5634]

"Very interesting Giles, never seen Yew trees that old" Well done!

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Barry. Yeah, I’m really lucky to have these ancient trees not so many miles from home. You may stumble across an old single specimen - in a grave yard perhaps ? Take care 👍

[@barryhannon5634]

@@gilesbinyon "Take Care Brother"!

[@owenmorse3136]

The wood of the Yew tree is something prowed to be British , I can't say no more , another good video just keep on rolling even if its coming out the pub with friends.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Owen. Always appreciate your support. Like the idea of a Pub video but I think it could end badly 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🤪🤪💥!!!

[@peterhannaford9729]

Another great little video Giles, seeing you enjoying your cup of tea; I’d put you down as an Earl Grey man like me.🫖🫖🫖

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Peter. Not massive on Earl Gray actually - but I am deffo a tea addict ☕️🫖 Cheers ☕️👍

[@dominic2923]

Great vidio 👍 I love the music at the beginning and end

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Dominic - appreciate you watching and commenting. Glad you like St Anne’s Reel too 🎵🎼👍

[@timlamb2410]

Hi Giles another good video toasted cheese sandwich yummy a good idea

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Tim - appreciated 🥪😊👍

[@billymoffat4744]

the Longbows that were made were usually made using Yew from the Mediterranean areas as English Yew was a tad too damp for a good Bow so they would import a lot of Yew

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Billy. Appreciate you watching and that’s a very interesting comment - I wasn’t aware a lot of Yew was imported. Thx again 🌲🌲🌲👍

[@matthewwenham5486]

Thanks Giles, loved the wildlife encounters. That's what makes our rare quiet spaces so special.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Matthew. Glad you enjoyed the wildlife and I agree with your sentiments too 👍

[@hughsmith9401]

every day a school day luv the channel

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks Hugh - appreciated 😊👍

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Nice channel! love the introduction, cool music. New follower here. Crow

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Crow. Appreciate you watching and your support. Glad you like the music too !!! Cheers 👍

[@explorewithlloydi]

This was a really great adventure thanks for sharing

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Lloydi. Appreciated. Hoping to check out some more of yours 👍

[@moonriseproductions]

Hey! Yew there! great work as usual, your vids are so awesome. I hope you blow up, your natural style deserves many more viewers. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@gilesbinyon]

🌲😂 Thanks very much Sam. Really appreciate that. Glad you enjoy the vids. Take care 😊👍

[@notquiteultralight1701]

Hey there. I really enjoyed this woods walk! The yews here in New England are foundation shrubs in front of houses. Soo maybe maximum 8 inches caliper and max height around 8 feet. Some crazy ones are 15-17’ and dbh 12-14”. I guess what I’m trying to say is WOW!!! Those look so majestic!! Oh my gosh!! That one was easily 6 ft across or a little under 2 m. Beautiful!! I was curious about your firebowl. Does that brand come with some kind of grate to put on top so you can put a pot on top? I really liked it. Im a stick stove nut. I have a firebox and an emberlit and love them both. They both have their applications. The emberlit just needs some kind of bellows for best results. Thank you again!! I really like your style. 👍🏼 NQU

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much for checking out the video and making that very interesting comment about the Yews in your area. Yeah, this fire bowl usually comes with a grill mainly for grilling meat I think. It is the Vargo fire box. It is titanium and very small and lightweight and not cheap !!! I had to fashion a clip to hold in the forth side tight otherwise it flares out when there are a few twigs inside. I also increased the ventilation (cobalt drill bit) which helps keep the fire burning stronger I think. Hope that helps. Cheers 👍

[@trooper2221]

Thanks for the bit on the yew trees, interesting. No yew trees in my area of Oklahoma and Texas I don’t think, love your camps, cheers

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers to you Trooper2221. There may be other varieties in your area - I don’t know. Thanks for watching and commenting 🇺🇸

[@thomasmusso1147]

Good Morning Giles .. 👍👍👍 .. Always a pleasure getting one of your Posts 😊. Thanks for the info on the Yew Staffs and Alcohol Tax .. very interesting. Now 'yew' know who to blame for '(Death) and Taxes' .. 'Henry again' 😁. Yes, yes, corny .. I know .. 😏. Agree, the Yew Tree does have a sinister 'tortured' look about it. If one looks carefully and with some imagination, one can visualize all sorts of shapes and contortions .. perhaps of unfortunate unsuspecting Souls .. of those taken on dark moonless nights .. foolish enough to travel through or overnight in said forests and now captives for all Eternity .. shrieking out a silent warning to all who care to look .. 'Imagination' .. limited only by that of the individual 😊. Tomato, Onion and Cheese 'Toasts'. Tying them up beforehand with Cotton Thread keeps them in one piece long enough for the Cheese / Substitute to melt and cement the whole lot together. The thread doesn't thereafter noticeably affect the taste or quality of the dish. Just a tip and worth a look-see. A good share .. thanks and until next time, take care .. Tommy

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks as always Tommy. Great to hear from you - Ha ha! - you should write a few horror scripts - you have a fantastic descriptive way of portraying the possible ‘dark side’ of the Yew !!! Just when I thought my ‘phobia’ was over, you had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up 😳 !!! 🤣😂🤣😂 Thanks too for the brilliant tip on tying up the toastie - will deffo give that a try. Cheers my Friend 👍

[@thomasmusso1147]

@@gilesbinyon 👍😁. 👹 .. back in the late 50's / early 60's .. Saturday Afternoons spent in Tearoom 'Bioscopes' (Bug Houses) watching the likes of Christopher Lee chasing after Distressed Damsels with Fangs bared and in turn being chased after by Peter Cushing with Wooden Stake and Hammer in Hand. The quintessential British (Rank Organisation) Horror Movie .. 'Tales from the Crypt' with Joan Collins (❤), Sir Ralph Richardson, Patrick Magee and more. Memories .. good ones ..

[@barrylever2055]

Hi Giles. Excellent as usual, and informative. Love the long . And the utube documentary on the Mary Rose.thanks for sharing. Regards.

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers very much Barry. Glad you liked and thx so much for the really nice comment. Cheers and take care 👍

[@Thedagda801]

Yew woodlands are quite rare. Yew is used as a substitute for palm in churches in Ireland for Palm Sunday.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you kindly The Dagda. Yeah, I’m so lucky to have many fine Yew specimens not too far from where I live. Take care 🌲🌲🌲😊👍

[@kevins6370]

Great video Giles, extremely enjoyable,always end up feeling hungry watching you prepare and consume your food,always looks very tasty,keep them coming please.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks Kevin. Appreciate you watching and commenting. Think people are always more hungry doing outdoors things !!! Cheers 👍

[@garphykeks]

What a great video again Giles😎👌 Loved the story of the Yew trees too... I remember my Cub Akela telling us the story of Yew trees being in many old English󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 churches in order to provide for the longbowman. Wonderful👏🏹

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks once again Marty. Lovely to get your comments and thx for watching. Yeah, I think in his time the English Longbowman was a formidable opponent. Cheers 👍

[@flatbrokefrank6482]

Those Yew's must be 1000 years - stay safe

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Frank. Yeah, some could be near 2000 years old - amazing. 😊👍

[@JackKlumpass]

Brilliant depth of knowledge. I remember being told at primary school that long bows were made from yew, but had no idea about all the other relevance regarding origins of the term tax etc. With it being toxic, do you think that’s why they named the enquiry into institutional abuse ‘operation yew tree’??

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks for watching and commenting Chris. And that’s an interesting question you pose about Operation Yew Tree …. Cheers 🌲🌲🌲👍

[@lucyb15]

lovely camp, fabulous old yews, thank-you!

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much as always Lucy B 🌲😊👍

[@kennethwilson8633]

Looks peaceful. Have fun stay safe.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you Kenneth. Appreciated. Cheers 👍

[@martincurtis6445]

Lovely to watch, as always Giles. Thank you :)

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers very much Martin. Appreciated 😊👍

[@treegoblin5479]

Great trees

[@gilesbinyon]

Absolutely…. just amazing. So lucky I got to be amongst them. Thank you for watching and commenting 🌲👍

[@CosmicCamper555]

Wow Giles thanks for taking us along to see them amazing Yews so breath taking. I'm definitely going to see where there is some in Ireland their energy is amazing. I have put together a energetic meaning of the Yew below, if Yourself and others might find it interesting. 😁 Great set up and grub 🥪 The Tree Of Life, and much of the meaning of the Yew tree surrounds ideas of life, death, and resurrection. The Yew is native to Great Britain and Ireland.Trinity in the symbolism of the Yew - Life, Death, Rebirth.Even if the trunk dies and rots, a “new” trunk often grows within the old one and brings the whole organism back to thrive once more. That’s not all. The branches of some have been known to reach the ground and sprout children directly from the parent, blurring the lines between the two. In this way, it is constantly reborn.

[@gilesbinyon]

Hey Cosmic Camper. Nemasta. Thank you so much once again for watching and making such an interesting and informative comment. It really is an amazing tree and thanks for putting up that energetic signature of the Yew which I read with interest and hopefully others can too. Take care 🌲😊👍

[@jakeymadball]

Another great video Giles, one of my favourites. Those Yew trees look amazing. Thanks for posting these 👍🏼

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much Jake. Glad you liked this one and really appreciate you commenting too. Cheers 😊

[@jbradshaw4236]

Nice one Giles... How lucky are we to have the vale on our doorstep.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much and totally agree - only half hour away. Take care and thx for the comment 😊👍

[@keithoverfield1864]

Yet again a great video as always its so great to watch you on your adventures always sumthing different each week its so nice to see you exploring your countryside and seeing how beautiful it is giles m8

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks Keith. Always great to hear from you and thx as always Buddy. Yeah, I’m so lucky to have stuff like these Yew trees so near to home 🌲🌲🌲 Cheers and take care 🍺🍺👍

[@longrider42]

I used to love walking in the woods, when I lived back east. Now I live on the open plains of Wyoming. Not a lot of forest. I have a question for you. Have you ever heard any thing odd in the middle of the night that disturbed you? Ah, the Yew wood bow and staff. Tough wood. Hey, what is the name of that pot you used over the fire. I like how the lid can become a bowl. I'd like to get one if possible.And lastly, I still think you need a good Tomahawk, for fire wood prep. But thats just me. I tell you what, if you can get me the pot, I will send you a Tomahawk?

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much James. Sounds like you miss the forest. Yeah, have heard many strange things in the night but with all the wildlife and trees and wind etc this is bound to happen. Can’t be sure on getting another of those cook pots. My mum found that one in a secondhand shop. It’s stamped on the base ‘BULL DOG BRAND’. It’s aluminium but good with heat. Sorry to let down the potential swap. Cheers Bud 😊👍

[@smd482000]

Miss your vids from the usa

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much - I do appreciate those nice words. I’m away on and off for a while which does disrupt the video making I’m afraid - I’ll do my best 😊 Cheers 👍

[@nickollerenshaw2883]

Fantastic video Giles love the way you camp so simple, well done pal

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much for watching Nick and appreciate that kind comment too. Cheers 😊👍

[@jay3825]

Another great vid Giles some amazing views. The yew forest looked amazing they really are unique trees and the wood is the best quality you can find. Lovely to see the deer well spotted really look forward to watching your vids atb jay

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you Jay. Always appreciate you watching and commenting. Sounds like you would readily use this wood for a catapult. We may cross paths one day and I’ll purchase one from you - maybe made of Yew !!! Cheers Buddy 😊👍

[@jay3825]

Hi Giles I use all sorts of wood 🪵 yew being my favourite. I try to use spalted dead yew which I take dead from the tree 🌳 occasionally ill prune a bit. Hopefully our paths will cross one day. Keep making the vids there great 👍 like the history. This country is steeped in history and its great to learn new things from different places in the uk 🇬🇧 atb jay

[@ysgolgerlan]

Thanks for another excellent video, and the effort in making it. 👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you kindly - always appreciated 😊👍

[@treksntarps]

Another cracking camp and vid there Giles. Lovely area and some beautiful scenery and nature. Really interesting stuff about the legendary old Yew tree. They're like something from middle earth. Take care bud hope you are well 🏕👌

[@gilesbinyon]

Appreciate your support as always Mark. Yeah, you are dead right when you say they look like from Middle Earth. Hoping you are getting family time these summer hols Buddy. Take care, keep safe, keep camping ⛺️🌲😊👍

[@treksntarps]

@@gilesbinyon Really enjoy your vids Giles, lovely. Yes been getting some nice family time thank you bud , its precious. Always get a hankering for a camp after your vids and eas hoping to get out this weekend . Not sure yet though, its my eldests birthday so not sure yet. Have a nice evening bud 👌

[@gilesbinyon]

@@treksntarps absolutely right Mate - very precious time. Mine pretty much all grown up now but still treasure the occasional chances we get. ATVB Buddy

[@Dug_Out]

Yew is my 2nd favourite tree after oak. It is indeed highly toxic. One of the other reasons you can only find them mainly in churchyards is because it was consecrated ground & therefore off limits to all & sundry. I believe churchyards were used to grow them as they thrived off the corpses in the ground & it gave a town or villiage a ready supply of wood if required. The yew was decimated here, & parts of europe due to its effective use in making longbows. The combination of heart wood & sapwood gives it a strength above that of most, if not all other wood types. I've actually got a stave in my shed. It's about 1.5m in length and I was going to try and make a bow out of it. It's a lot harder than it looks despite the countless videos and bow making blogs & articles I've watched & read. It's pretty useless for a bow now but I just can't bear to burn it! The red heartwood is quite distinctive surrounded by the sap wood & it's that combination, if cut right & tillerred correctly that gives it its superior draw weight. It can flex beyond what your average wooden bow can. Making my own English Longbow is something I'd love to do, but I think it may be beyond my abilities. I looked at purchasing a couple of staves about 10 years back & the were going for around £100 each at the time. That's a lot of money to spend on something that the average person will probably mess up & ruin. Who knows though, maybe one day? Another great vid, Giles. Always a pleasure👍

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Dug. Glad you liked the vid and really appreciate this wonderful comment. It’s easy to forget the vast skills involved in making a good bow - and I suppose these would have been passed down by voice and demonstration from generation to generation. And let’s face it, thousands and thousands of top quality bows must have been made during those times. I guess humanity has learnt and then lost many highly technical and incredible skills - in the name of progress. I really hope you get the chance one day to have a go at making the longbow. Cheers 👍

[@gardenbasha22]

Hey it's good to see that LNT Waltz or is it a Foxtrot again. Another outstanding Video Giles, loving the history again. I still have my old school gear sadly can't carry the weight any more, so confined to the back garden now. still fun though😊

[@gilesbinyon]

Cheers Allan. Thx for watching and glad you enjoyed. Yeah, can’t beat the LNT Stomp 🕺!!! Yeah, the old gear can be heavy but if you can reduce it to the minimum amount maybe you could get out with it 😊👍

[@gardenbasha22]

@@gilesbinyon Sadly I would need too much kit just to keep my core temperature right through the night.😢Age is the reality of it.

[@landscape7734]

Nice set up ! You got. me.

[@gilesbinyon]

Glad you liked it and thanks for your support 👍

[@SteveSeadog]

Really enjoyed this video. You have a new subscriber. I had my first wild camp last weekend and, judging by your minimalist approach, took way too much gear! Will definitely travel lighter next time.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks for the support Steve. Yeah, sometimes a few choice rugged bits of gear can do the job ! Good luck ! 😊👍

[@rogerlovitt8188]

I'm curious about the Billy set and pack you are using. Great videos by the way

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Roger. Yeah, my mum found the billy in a secondhand shop !!! It’s got Bull Dog stamped on the base. It’s aluminium but good on the fire. The pack in this vid is (I believe) ex Croatian military - eBay find. Cheers 😊👍

[@rogerlovitt8188]

@@gilesbinyon thanks for the info. The countryside that you tend to camp in looks incredible

[@paulkennedy5021]

First time visitor. I like your style. I think I heard that you should not even cook food over yew. What do you think? Any truth to that? Subbed.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Paul - appreciated. I hadn’t heard of any danger of burning Yew …..however, one of the comments on this video warns of a kind of toxic off-gassing on hot days 😳 So maybe something similar may occur burning Yew wood …. I don’t know. Cheers 👍

[@davidmoss3926]

Enjoying your video mate, good escapism take care

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you very much David. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for commenting 😊👍

[@DAVEMOOBS]

Brilliant, nice one

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you kindly Dave - appreciate your support 👍

[@teeeff5179]

thank you Giles, one of my favourite trees. i'm from West Coast Canada and the reputation of the yew is very different there. in general it's pretty highly prized as a strong, beautiful and long lasting wood. it steam-bends remarkably well and finished yew has a lovely feel in the hands. personally i love it and collect bits of yew deadwood and windfall for small woodcraft projects whenever the opportunity presents itself. as to its reputation for falling bits i think that must be a feature of the ancient trees because most yew stands i've seen are pretty clear of deadfall though admittedly those are younger trees. from what i've seen i'd be much more wary of beech and larch.

[@gilesbinyon]

Thank you once again Tee Eff - for watching and that interesting comment. Yeah, it is a beautiful wood and I can imagine after working coming to an incredible finish. Although it seems very hard so could be slightly difficult to work ? And yeah, I don’t think they are as likely to randomly drop a limb like beech for example, as you say. But I wouldn’t sleep under one - I have heard they take your soul during the night 😳😳😳 !!!

[@teeeff5179]

@@gilesbinyon bone dry Yew is a lot easier to work than you might imagine. you need sharp tools as it won't tolerate being hacked at but assuming you've got that covered the grain is so tight and dense that it's not too bad at all. i find seasoned maple and oak much less forgiving. that said i almost always prefer to work wood green, at least roughing things out, and Yew is a dream to work by hand when it's green or only partially seasoned. i should mention that i'm doing handcarved woodcraft stuff like spoons and other small utinsels, also jewelry and suchlike. i had mentioned steam bending: i still have a bracelet i made from a seasoned Yew twig years ago: split it lengthwise, cleaned it up (removed the bark), trimmed the rough spots, steamed it and wrapped it around my wrist. held it in place for a few hours with tension wrap (for wrapping wounds) and it's held its shape ever since. Yew is so beautiful that you really don't need to do much else with it though i do like to finish most of my stuff with tung oil.

[@gilesbinyon]

@@teeeff5179 thx for that fascinating reply. I love the idea you had for the bracelet. I’m sure it would be possible to fashion something from some pipe and a kettle …. hmmm 🤔 Cheers 🇨🇦👍

[@teeeff5179]

@@gilesbinyon quite so, the steaming rig can be pretty much anything, as long as you can get your whole workpiece in the steam you're good to go. for the bracelet i think i just used an old pot (with lid) and one of those folding veggie steamers. for longer items, like a walking stick for instance ;) , layflat poly tubing or the accordion style duct tubing is relatively cheap, reusable, and does the job well.

[@Tom_Bee_]

@@teeeff5179 I'd have thought yew wood was a tad chemically for spoons and the like? Oak certainly has a taste to me! I suppose sealing it with oil is the cure though...

[@no_excuses]

Thanks Giles, I agree Yew trees have a strong history in the British Isles both for pagans and christians🌲

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Keri. Hope you are doing well. Yeah, what a great, interesting tree the Yew is, and conjures up so many mixed feelings 😊👍

[@peter236uk1]

Lovely video Giles can I ask are you Vegan also where did the cheese come from struggle to find decent non dairy cheese

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Peter, I appreciate your support. I have been vegetarian for more than 30 years but in the last few years have almost completely cut out dairy and eggs too. The cheese was Smoked Applewood vegan cheese. Sainsburys do it and possibly other supermarkets too. Nicer melted I think than straight out of the fridge. Thx again 👍

[@Tom_Bee_]

I have a hankering to wander down the Thames towpath and go look at the Ankerwycke yew now...

[@gilesbinyon]

That sounds like a great little adventure Tom. And I understand that it is thought to be over 2000 years old - and packs in a lot of (possibly) interesting historical stories too !!! Thx for watching and commenting Bud 👍

[@Tom_Bee_]

@@gilesbinyonno, thank YOU. It really was a great watch. My first of your videos. The first of many, I hope. I really don't get out as much as I would like and I need all the inspiration and encouragement I can get!

[@Tom_Bee_]

@@gilesbinyon oh and since I'm back here and commenting again, may I take this opportunity to recommend a little known and rather hard to acquire these days paperback called The Sacred Yew by Annand Chetan? It's nowhere near as hippy-woo as it sounds, although there is some of that and it was published under the Arcana imprint (the spiritual type arm of one of the big publishers back in the eighties and nineties.) He makes some really interesting arguments including that given the age of some of the trees in Norman and Saxon church yards, that the churches were actually planted in the shadow of the already ancient and sacred trees, rather than the other way round. There's also a wealth of interesting and more scientific information, for example he talks about the helical nature of the tree's grain (xylem, or tiny tubes that typically lie straightish and parallel in most trees and in yews are spirals that tie themselves in knots)

[@gilesbinyon]

@@Tom_Bee_ thanks again Tom. Appreciate your replies and I’ll keep an eye out for this (hippy-woo 😂) book. Cheers 👍

[@connorscott1249]

Really like that fire bowl, where did you buy it from

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Conner. Yeah, it’s the Vargo fire pit. It usually comes with a grill on top but can be obtained without like this one. It’s titanium but a rather expensive piece of sheet metal. I had to fashion a clip to hold the last side from splaying out when full of sticks. And I added more ventilation which helps I think but requires something like a cobalt drill bit. Really look into it before buying Mate 👍

[@RaniDevi-ur6ns]

Where is this beautiful location? Can you tell me please

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much for watching and commenting Rani. This was within the South Downs 👍

[@joshuacini3129]

Do a kit load out video

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Joshua. That’s a good idea. I try to show the gear I use during the videos but possibly some of it is not covered so well in the footage. 🤔 Cheers 👍

[@BumblebumBear]

Many yews in churchyards are much older than the churches they surround (although both are ancient in some cases). I've always wondered about this but it was explained to me that the yew tree, especially circles of them, were places of pagan worship. When the Romans invaded Britain they crushed pagan beliefs and forced Christianity on the native population. Building christian churches within the pagan places of worship was their way of enforcing this. I therefore always think of those long lived pagans when I visit such churches and feel their presence to this day. Perhaps one day Britain will return to its pagan origins?

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Bumble and that’s an interesting comment. I have heard similar things but there seems to be a little uncertainty - I guess things happening so long ago and not much in the way of records etc. But, as you say, as civilisation heads down the scary path of global warming and excessive pollution, and it becomes obvious that it is due to our abuse of the natural world, there could well be a resurgence of the old religions which (it seems to me) centre on nature and Mother Earth as a whole and not on people. Maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess if we’d stuck with the old way of thinking 🤔

[@bencollyer2296]

Yes mate I know how hard it is when you come across deer and try get your camera out in time fair play mate

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks very much Ben. Ha! You’re right - and wildlife has a habit of waiting till you’ve put your phone just out of easy reach 😂🤣. Cheers 👍

[@briansolomon6153]

you should buy a book about knots save yourself loads of time no need to wind feet of string around

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks Brian. Yeah, I used to use the taut-line hitch on the guys but have tried to simplify things because I know people often dislike the complication of different knots. As for the ridge line - actually the ‘no knot’ is a good option because I use natural fibre lines - these lines under tension in damp conditions will jam up. A friction hitch (which always involves a lot of turns) is always releasable for easy pack up (pls see my vid Military Cape Shelters. Cheers 👍

[@carlnoon7564]

Just wondered why your food is vegan

[@gilesbinyon]

Thanks for watching and commenting Carl. Yeah, I’m nearly vegan at home - and it makes for easy meals when out in the woods too 😊⛺️🌲Cheers 👍