Why was the yew tree so popular in England?
Generally speaking it was unpopular rather than popular. Because of its poisonous berries, it could not be allowed to grow in the countryside because it would poison the livestock. However, its wood made the best bows, England’s “secret weapon” in the wars against France, so it was made illegal to fell yews in churchyards, the only place the livestock could not go. Later, when big houses started adopting formal gardens, yews were popular because their dense foliage could be trimmed into thick hedges or decorative shapes. Livestock were not allowed in the gardens of the rich.
