The yew tree in the churchyard at Colemere is a listed ancient tree. It was growing here hundreds of years before the church was built in Yew Tree Field.
The experts tell us that it is over 500 years old and probably grown from a sapling from an even older tree. It could date back to the time of Edward I who considered the art of archery so important that a law was made ordering every man, except judges and clergymen, to possess a bow of his own height, and keep it ready for use. The springy wood of the yew was used to make the long bows and ancient yew trees, originally planted for this purpose, are often found in churchyards.
Local tradition has it that before the level of the mere was lowered in the eighteenth century this was a mooring place for boats.
Christopher Jobson