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# This week, God loves yew
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/this-week-god-loves-yew/
- Published: 2025-02-14T07:53:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:21:47.000Z
- Description: Church communities across Suffolk are being encouraged to help protect historic churchyard yews by adding them to a national database.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Faith & Religion, Our Environment, #article, Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, #Import 2026-03-16 14:45

**Why it matters:** Ancient yew trees are internationally important but have largely vanished from Britain's countryside, making churchyard specimens crucial for preservation.

**The big picture:** Caring For God's Acre, a conservation charity, is running 'Love Your Yew Week' from 8-14 February, with the Church of England in Suffolk participating by urging parishes to register their yews with the Ancient Yew Group's national index.

![James Rolls, Net Zero Officer at the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1739485210-james-rolls-jpeg-1.jpg)

James Rolls, Net Zero Officer at the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich)

**By the numbers:** At least one Suffolk church is already taking action:

- St Martin's in Fornham St Martin, a Bronze Eco Church since 2019, maintains multiple yew trees
- The church received a donated Millennium Yew in 2000

**What they're saying:** "Churchyards are important green spaces, enriching a community's biodiversity and providing a home for a wide range of wildlife," said James Rolls, Net Zero Officer at the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

**For context:** There are several theories about why yews are common in UK churchyards:

- They may have been planted to deter cattle
- Their wood was historically used for longbows
- They symbolise eternity, connected to the Tree of Life in religious beliefs

**The bottom line:** Harriet Carty, Director of Caring for God's Acre, said: "The ancient and veteran churchyard yews of Britain are internationally important and need our care." Church communities across Suffolk can register their yew trees by visiting [www.ancient-yew.org](http://www.ancient-yew.org/?ref=ipswich.co.uk).

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