Last week I had the privilege of accompanying The Society of John De Graeme as they visited the Fortingall Yew Tree near Aberfeldy, Perthshire. This tree is thought to be the oldest known living thing in Scotland. The society are part of a project which is documenting trees that have historic significance and investigating the landscape of Scotland during the medieval period. As part of the project, samples have been collected (with permission from the guardians of each site) which will hopefull

This is believed to be the oldest tree in Europe - the Fortingall Yew in Perthshire is over 5000 years old! Now, Yew trees are notoriously difficult to date and estimates range from 3000 to 9000 years, but I'm using the Forestry Commission's official decision. We think that Yew Trees were sacred to pre-Christian people across Britain. Their long life and regenerative abilities make them a tree of life while their poisonous needles and seeds also make them a symbol of death. It's no wonder that w

The Desert Circle of Kings | A Sacred Gathering in the Sands **Description:** Hidden beneath the shifting sands lies a massive stone circle believed to be linked to ancient rulers. Arranged with precise spacing and alignment, the stones suggest ceremonial gatherings reserved only for kings and high elites. Some researchers believe the circle marked coronations, celestial events, or royal councils tied to divine authority. Why was this place restricted to rulers alone—and what decisions were made