IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Peel Lane, CONGLETON, CW12 4RE

On a cold midwinter day, fog extended across the Cheshire Plain as far as Astbury village, where the church emerged from the mist as viewed from Congleton Edge 3km away.

This venerable old Yew, situated on the north side of St Mary's churchyard, is thought to be over one thousand years old. It has had to have two props put in place to stop it falling over. The Common, or English, Yew (Taxus baccata) is an ancient tree species that has survived since before the Ice Age and as such has been revered and used by humankind throughout the ages. Because of its ability to survive to great ages and its unique way of growing new trunks from within the original root bole, it has now been estimated that some English Yews are as much as 4,000 years old. Pollen counts taken from peat bogs of Europe show that the Yew trees grew in greater abundance at the time of the Ice Age than they do now. As the glaciers receded northwards, the great forests of Europe contained up to 80% of Yew trees, since then have been in continuous decline. Even though the Yew is said to symbolise longevity, death and rebirth its association with churchyards could be that the foliage and berries are poisonous to domesticated stock; therefore in Medieval England the churchyards were the few places that would be fenced thus protecting the trees from the need to be destroyed by farmers.

This lovely old Yew, thought to be over 1,000 years old, has had to be propped to prevent it from falling across the path on the north side of St Mary's Churchyard. The Common, or English, Yew (Taxus baccata) is an ancient conifer species that has survived since before the Ice Age and as such has been revered and used by humankind throughout the ages. Because of its ability to survive to great ages and its unique way of growing new trunks from within the original root bole, it has now been estimated that some English Yews are as much as 4,000 years old. Pollen counts taken from peat bogs of Europe show that the Yew trees grew in greater abundance at the time of the Ice Age than they do now. As the glaciers receded northwards, the great forests of Europe contained up to 80% of Yew trees, since then have been in continuous decline. Even though the Yew is said to symbolise longevity, death and rebirth its association with churchyards could be that the foliage and berries are poisonous to domesticated stock; therefore in Medieval England the churchyards were the few places that would be fenced thus protecting the trees from the need to be destroyed by farmers.

Thought to be over 1,000 years old, this old Yew in the churchyard of St Mary's is definitely looking its age. The trunk hardly looks strong enough to support it and, indeed, there are two wooden props holding it up on the other side. The Common, or English, Yew (Taxus baccata) is an ancient conifer species that has survived since before the Ice Age and as such has been revered and used by humankind throughout the ages. Because of its ability to survive to great ages and its unique way of growing new trunks from within the original root bole, it has now been estimated that some English Yews are as much as 4,000 years old. Pollen counts taken from peat bogs of Europe show that the Yew trees grew in greater abundance at the time of the Ice Age than they do now. As the glaciers receded northwards, the great forests of Europe contained up to 80% of Yew trees, since then have been in continuous decline. Even though the Yew is said to symbolise longevity, death and rebirth its association with churchyards could that the foliage and berries are poisonous to domesticated stock; therefore in Medieval England the churchyards were the few places that would be fenced thus protecting the trees from the need to be destroyed by farmers.

This Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) was sunning itself on the wall outside Image Seven-spot ladybirds are a gardener's best friend as they are natural allies against devastating aphids. These amazing little beetles, and especially their larvae , are extremely active aphid predators and during their twelve month lifespan they will kill and eat over 5,000 aphids. The seven-spot is easily one of Britain's most common and easily recognised beetles.

This is the north gate to St Mary's Church situated opposite Image, a lot of care needs to be taken when exiting by this gate because the traffic can be quite fast.