I became fascinated by the story of the Ulcombe Yew after I had been doing some work taking an impression from it’s gorgeous burr texture high up in the trunk. As I jumped down from my concealed hiding place I startled a man who was visiting the grave of his son. After I explained what I was doing we got to chatting and the man told me that the ancient yews of Ulcombe had a special significance for both him and his wife and that every time they came to visit his wife would place a hand on the trunk and raise a prayer for their lost son. I wondered how many people through history had been touched by this tree during its 3000 year lifespan.

The more I researched the more I realised that there was an incredible history linking ancient Yews with spiritual belief. In fact it could be said that the tree and its younger companions were the basis for locating the Church at this site and represented therefore a kind of “locus” of this place that I loved and where I had spent many years working. I decided it was fitting that I should make something to honour the tree and its links to human spirituality. Talking with my friend Phil Clemo I realised that we could further add to this story using sound and moving image. The further exploration of the trees secrets is what we are busy with right now.