Sleeping under a yew tree?

[Pandabean]

Just been browsing youtube and saw this chaps video on a shelter under a yew tree.
I thought it was dangerous to sleep under a yew tree due to the toxins and thats why the ground is usually clear underneath one or is that just a myth and i have it wrong ? I know the yew tree can be fatal in other ways.

Interesting video otherwise not including nearly chopping a finger off & cable ties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgE5A1IC-F0

[video=youtube;kgE5A1IC-F0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgE5A1IC-F0[/video]

 

[spiritwalker]

think its the overwhelming shade they cast that stops stuff growing under them but also the needles (laden with toxins) that have fallen will cause ground toxicity(possibly) but i cant see it being a problem for people sitting camping under one of them if anything they will just be giving off a little o2 in the night...

 

[shogun]

really..like...this...guys..vi deo's...first...class...
[video=youtube;SHO8kyRQuTE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHO8kyRQuTE[/video]

 

[Retired Member southey]

The Yew is the gate way to the after life, which is why you'll find them in churchyards as they were burial sites long before Christian type religion started using the same sites, so if you sleep under one tie a line to a rock or other tree so you can find your way back! When/if you wake.

 

[Peter_t]

it is true about toxins in the wood and needles. yew is a bit crafty having needles that poison the ground to destroy competition. i wouldn't worry about sleeping under one, the toxins cannot be inhailed and as long as you don't eat them you'l be fine


pete

 

[leealanr]

looked at this one and some subsequent videos he did as well.

These were good and looked at longer term living.

No issues for me as a home!

Alan L.

 

[robin wood]

When I worked in the woods we knew all the yew trees and it would be the chosen spot for lunch break in the rain. An hour after rain has started it is still bone dry under a big yew.

 

[torc]

I've bivvied in a yew forest in my local national park a few times with no ill effects.
Once you don't ingest any needles you should have no problems.
Happy trails...torc.

 

[Pandabean]

Thanks all.
Southey, thats what I heard and I guess thats why I started the topic, although I havent heard of tying yourself to a rock to find your way back. Might take a pet rock next time I am out.

I managed to watch the rest of the chap's videos after posting (slow download speed here ) and found them very good and interesting, especially the longer term shelter in 7 parts.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Now Beech trees, that a different thing altogether. 1st you have all the spiky husks that can puncher your kit and more worryingly they are pron to dropping limbs unexpectedly (mainly in the spring when sap low is high)

 

[Hugo]

I enjoy watching this guys videos too, e b a gooden that guy.

 

[SMARTY]

My father is buried under a Yew tree.

 

[Kerne]

I heard that the yew is the most toxic plant on the planet and was warned off cooking or eating under one due the possible consequences of ingesting fallen needles. Sleeping under one shouldn't be a problem - unless you sleep with your mouth open!

 

[Paganwolf]

Myth, i slept under one quite a few times and im nomal,( no bad comebacks from anyone who knows e please eh!! ) theres enough mythology and facts about the yew to write a chapter of a book about tis one of my favorite trees...

 

[hog]

really..like...this...guys..video's...first...class...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHO8kyRQuTE

What a pity he spits a large ball of mucus at this point (0.58) and ruins the clip.

 

[bushblade]

Yew trees provide quite a nice dry spot to shelter under in my experience, though I would avoid preparing food under them. In my humble opinion I don't think that that particular youtuber sets the best example to follow in general.

 

[Pandabean]

Bushblade there were a few times when watching the videos I wondered that to myself. A few times he throws his knife into the ground or one occasion he planted the axe in the top of a post and it just about fell off.

 

[bushblade]

Yes, I doubt he's spent many nights out in his 'natural' shelter in adverse conditions, I think he would soon discover his roof is nowhere near steep enough to shed rain and his fire is far too far away to keep him warm. I think there are a fair few good examples on youtube but you have to wade through a lot of questionable material to find it, from the point of view of a novice it would be very hard to know what is a good example to follow.

 

[nitrambur]

Did he really swing that machete straight at his hand cleaning up the first pole?? The man is a loony

 

[IanM]

Is it not the Elm which is prone to dropping off big branches without warning?