Yews (Taxus baccata) grow in large areas of Europe, in England the trees have been cultivated for centuries because of their precious wood, which is among other things valuable for bow making. Yews can live for over 1000 years. Beautiful burl wood overgrown with fine small growth buds that are called sleeping eyes produce the most sought after 'peppered' burl wood, this is extremely rare and coveted for finest furniture and woodturning! Yew wood is very hard, tough, heavy, highly elastic and very durable even in damp conditions. Yew has the hardest wood of all softwoods. It can be worked easily and well with all tools, planed surfaces become very smooth. A rare, unusual precious wood!
