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April 8th 1769 |
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The Fortingall Yew Tree“In Fortingall churchyard are the remains of a prodigious ewe tree whose ruins measured fifty six feet and a half in circumference.”Thomas Pennant. A tour of Scotland. In Fortingall the old pagan custom of lighting the Beltane fire was carried on for many years by the boys of the village. The place chosen was the old yew tree in the village churchyard. The custom was not calculated to improve the health of the tree and around 1725 the main trunk split in two. Now the remaining parts are supported by stone pillars. It is a venerable and somewhat geriatric tree today but since it is claimed to be around three thousand years old the miracle is that it is alive at all. |