Ancient witness across the ages

Standing guard throughout the centuries - here’s the ancient yew tree at Church Preen.

Ancient witness across the ages

This Shropshire giant measures around 23ft in circumference and it’s said that 21 people once squeezed inside its hollow trunk. 

The tree is at least 1,500 years old and stands in the churchyard of St John the Baptist. 

An iron band was placed around the trunk more than a century ago to strengthen it and make it more stable.

I visited this peaceful spot near Wenlock Edge on a glorious day of sunshine and birdsong, and made the most of a view that has remained unchanged for generations.

Published by Shropshire and Beyond on

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2025
Ancient guardians on Wenlock Edge Sunset view from the cave of Caractacus New jigsaw will test your local knowledge Perfect spot to capture view of Ludlow Castle Bluebells and birdsong on Wenlock Edge Clouds of white along path of old railway line Brown Clee rises above a sea of glorious gold A walk on the wild side of the Stiperstones Sunshine and colour light up the Dingle Spring stages dazzling display in Shropshire Glorious sight as birds take to the skies Clouds and sunlight in the Shropshire Hills Sunshine and sea of mist on Brown Clee Sea of flowers heralds the approach of spring Ice and frost on the canal at Ellesmere Broseley heritage featured in new jigsaw Snowy sentinels on the summit of Titterstone Beautiful light as sun sets in the Corvedale
2024
A look back at our best images from 2024 Winter wonderland in sparkling Ludlow Winter snow arrives on Wenlock Edge Autumn colour in the Stretton Hills Reaching for the stars on Brown Clee Green and glorious along the borderlands Chance encounter up on the Long Mynd Supermoon lights up Shropshire skies Timeless scene at sunrise in Clun Valley Sunshine festival at the Whitchurch 'Arm' Field of gold in the shadow of Brown Clee A magical start to the day at Clun Castle A blaze of harvest colour at Bromfield Focusing on a different view of Ludlow Castle Majestic view from the top of Caer Caradoc At home in 'nearest place to paradise' Spectacular display over the Stiperstones The view that inspired Shropshire's Mary Webb Waiting for the sunshine on Cothercott Hill It's Shrewsbury - but with a different look Springtime arrives in the Thankful Village Blossom time at Clun in bright spring sunshine Magical landscape of snow, sun and mist Dramatic Snow Moon over Titterstone Clee Sunshine and shadow on Cothercott Hill Out on the trail of the Long Mynd ponies New Bishop's Castle jigsaw now on sale A step back into history along Grope Lane Light and shadows in the Stretton Hills Sunshine and frost at the start of a new year
2023
A look back at our best images from 2023 Striking colours on Llangollen Canal A pink and blue sunrise over the Wrekin Beautiful autumn colours in the Dingle Magical morning on top of Caer Caradoc Autumn shades along the Llangollen Canal Morning mist and sunshine over Ludlow Harvest Moon lights up the Wrekin mast Mystical sunrise in the lovely Onny Valley Walking in the steps of A E Housman New page in the story of A Shropshire Lad Fresh chapter opens for Housman classic In the footsteps of the past on Adstone Hill Ethereal morning in the misty Stretton Hills New chapter begins for A Shropshire Lad New perspective from the Newport Canal A golden evening in the Redlake Valley Stiperstones pathway into the unknown Sea of white beneath Titterstone Clee Magical sunrise in the Stretton Hills Glorious evening sunshine on Linley Hill Dramatic light as sun comes up over Wrekin Historic site set amid a sea of buttercups Blue heaven in the Shropshire sunshine Green and gold in the Shropshire Hills Steaming through time across Shropshire Field of gold at Moreton Corbet Castle Ancient witness across the ages Dawn breaks over beautiful Ludlow Drift of gold at Acton Burnell Castle Brand new chapter for A Shropshire Lad Blossom and snow at Old St Chad's Wind and wild ponies on Brown Clee Carpet of white at Acton Scott church Feeding time in the Corvedale sunshine Flight of fancy in the sky over Shropshire Winter wonderland in the Redlake Valley A walk on the wild side in the Stretton Hills
2022
A look back at our best images from 2022 A winter's afternoon in snowy Ironbridge Harvest time in the Stretton Hills Full moon over Ludlow and St Laurence's One foot in the past in misty Clun Valley Autumn glory as sun rises over Ludlow Misty sunrise over beautiful Corvedale Rocks and gnarled trees in 'wild' Shropshire Veteran yew beneath slopes of Brown Clee A different view of the Shropshire landscape Early-morning reflection at Ironbridge Sunset on ancient oak known as Ronsak Harvest time beneath the Long Mynd Quiet reflection on the Severn at Ironbridge A magical morning on the Stiperstones A stroll into the history of Shrewsbury Peace and quiet on Nordy Bank hill fort Brilliant blaze of red near Much Wenlock Call of the cuckoo in lovely Ashes Hollow Golden glow on church and Titterstone Clee History amid the buttercups at Clun Timeless scene on historic Wyle Cop Out and about on Wenlock Edge A rhapsody in blue across the county Dramatic skies in the Stretton Hills Blossom and blue sky in an English heaven Mist and birdsong in the Clun Valley Storm clouds over the Devil's Chair A walk into history down Grope Lane Springtime in the Thankful Village Tragic tale of the 'hurricane' family Power and glory of two Shropshire castles Carpet of spring flowers at Shipton A landscape of white beneath the Wrekin Glorious morning over north Shropshire Misty sunrise over the Onny valley Snow and ice on the summit of Brown Clee
2021
A look back at our best images from 2021 Sea of white as sun rises over Bridgnorth My home from home in the Clun Valley Autumn reflections in the Llangollen Canal Flash of colour over Titterstone Clee Harvest time in the shadow of the Wrekin Sunshine and rain at Stokesay Castle Magical view as sun rises over Shropshire Landscape that inspired novelist Mary Webb A step back in time along Offa's Dyke Village that may have inspired Conan Doyle Sunrise and silence in the Shropshire Hills A bird's-eye view of Shropshire Spectacular sunrise over Ludlow Patchwork of green beneath Moyledd Hill Evening sunlight on Titterstone Clee Hailstorms, wind and rain on Caer Caradoc Spectacular blossom across Shropshire Light and shadows on the Stiperstones A frosty morning on Whitcliffe Common Spring blossoms into life in beautiful Clun A view of Bridgnorth with a difference Brief encounter on Hopesay Common Sunshine and snow on Caer Caradoc Dark shadow of a Civil War massacre Pink glow of moonrise over the Wrekin
2020
Our favourite images in a year of challenges Frost and mist over dreamy Bridgnorth Misty dawn in the Redlake Valley Legacy of industry on Brown Clee Country idyll of the postman poet A step back in time at Wenlock Priory Golden light on Tolkien's Middle Earth A magical sunrise on Caer Caradoc Judges commend Ironbridge image Tranquil evening in the Clun Valley Peace and solitude at Brook Vessons Sunrise and shadows at Clun Castle A landscape in green and gold Misty dawn over the ruins of Ludlow Castle A celebration of beautiful Shropshire Triumph of the Clun Green Man Sea of gold at Smethcote church Sun and snow on the Clee Hills Spring is just around the corner Watery scene at Attingham Park New Shropshire book on the way A visit to 'Shropshire's Pompeii' Early morning sunshine on Linley Hill beeches Winter sun on the Hollies Nature Reserve Mist over Shropshire Reflections on the past Sunrise from Caradoc
2019
End of an era at Ironbridge Sunset picture in national magazine

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