Yew tree restoration Guildford Borough Council

Guildford Borough Council secured £17,239.32 to deliver Phase 2 of a conservation project focused on the ancient yew trees and surrounding soils at Newlands Corner and Merrow Downs. This phase involved targeted soil remediation treatments for 15 key ancient and veteran yew trees, helping to restore soil health and create conditions that support long-term, healthy tree growth. 

The project also includes ongoing formal and informal monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the treatments, contributing valuable evidence to wider research in ancient tree conservation. In addition, the initiative aims to raise awareness among local communities about the importance of these historic trees and the need for their protection. Measures such as dead hedging have been installed to prevent further soil compaction caused by visitor pressure, helping to safeguard the trees for future generations.