The magnificent Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue, supported by funds from The National Heritage Lottery Fund, is buzzing with renewed community spirit! On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Avenue hosted its first dedicated Volunteer Working Party following the recent series of topiary workshops. This marks a pivotal moment in the Trust’s mission: inviting the community to take ownership of this “Yew-Nique” heritage site to ensure its beauty and sustainability for all future visitors.
A small but mighty team of six—including dedicated Trustees Dr. Patrick Candler, Chair and Sue Thomas, Vice Chair, braved the early November chill from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. The results of their hard work are already visible, setting a fantastic precedent for future community involvement.
Immediate Impact: Clearing, Tidying, and Enhancing Safety
The initial working party focused on high-impact areas, tackling maintenance jobs that significantly improve the visitor experience and the health of the historic site:
- Car Park & Entrance Revamp: The team replaced several edging logs near the entrance, immediately smartening the approach from Car Park 1. Many thanks to Forestry England for felling some dead larch trees, which they let us use for the edging (though we had to cart them and they were really quite heavy!)
- Eyesore Removed: Ditches were cleared of brambles and overgrowth. Crucially, a large, self-seeded oak tree that had been an eyesore for years and was previously left due to an adjacent hornet’s nest was safely removed, opening up the area.
- Hedge & Root Clearance: The entrance hedge was given a deep clean, with tough bramble and elder removed right from the roots to prevent regrowth and improve the Avenue’s welcoming first impression.
- Sustainability Focus: A new area was cleared between the car park and the Avenue entrance to serve as a designated spot to add brash and hedge trimmings, allowing it to naturally rot down and contribute to the site’s ecosystem.
Fuelled by well-deserved tea, coffee, and biscuits, the volunteers’ success demonstrates exactly what consistent community action can achieve.
Your Avenue Needs You: The Three-Phase Action Plan
This first Working Party is just the beginning. It kicks off the Trust’s robust three-phase Volunteer Action Plan for Maintenance. The long-term preservation of this irreplaceable topiary collection hinges entirely on the dedication of local volunteers.
Phase 1: Immediate Kerb Appeal & Entrance Focus
The initial goal is to make the entire entrance “neat and tidy.” This includes the work started in November: aggressive removal of invasives, trimming hedges to a uniform height, and keeping the entrance yews in pristine shape.
Phase 2: Improving Yew Tree Health and Base Maintenance
This phase targets the fundamental well-being of the ancient yews:
- Raising the Skirt: Creating a level, defined base by raising the lowest edge of the yews by 20cm to improve drainage and simplify grass cutting.
- Debris Removal: Systematically cleaning out clipped needles and debris from inside and under the trees to prevent rot.
- Deadwood: Removing dead branches at the tree bases to improve the tree’s appearance and health.
Phase 3: Refining Topiary Definition and Safety Investment
This most delicate phase focuses on restoring the famous historic patterns. Work will focus on improving the space between tiers, tackling lopsided growth, and reshaping clumpy elements.
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue is a community treasure, and its future is now in ALL of our hands.
The Trustees are calling on local people to get involved. Whether you can spare a few hours a month or just want to learn a bit more about the site, your dedication is the single most important factor in securing the Avenue’s legacy.
Want to help write the next chapter of the Avenue’s history?
Would you like to know more about the next Working Party? Or make a donation to support the work of the Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue Trust?
Contact the trustees by emailing info@yewtreeavenue.co.uk for more information.
