–

Introduction: The Test rises at Ashe, just to the west of Basingstoke and on its way through is fed from many streams and brooks emanating from the west and one main stream from the east.

After flowing through Stockbridge and Romsey, it converges in Southampton with the Itchen some 40 miles from its source. At this point it becomes which flows into before reaching the open sea.

The west tributaries include the , Anton, Wallop Brook, Dun, Blackwater and Bartley Water.

The east tributaries include the Dever, Tadburn and Tanners Brook.

The Lower Test

This is the last of three reports that split the into three sections; Upper, Middle and Lower. The Lower Test is described as from just north of Romsey to its confluence with the Itchen, covering a distance of some 12 miles by road. Along its path it is joined by the Tadburn, Blackwater, Bartley Water and Tanners Brook.

All of the towns and villages along this part of the Test and its tributaries were included, with 18 churches visited, of which 12 contained yews. All churches are in Hampshire unless otherwise stated.

Of the 26 yews noted at these sites, 11 had measurements recorded. The graph below groups the measured yews ac- cording to their girth, presented here in metric form. It does not include yews whose girth was estimated*. Where a tree has been measured at different heights, the measurement taken closest to the root/ground is used for this graph.

Measured Yew Trees by Girth Range

5

4 s e e tr f o rs e

ee 3

br t

mf

uo

Nr e b

m 2 u N

1

0 0.5M to 1.5M 1.5M to 2.5M 2.5M to 3.5M 3.5M to 4.5M 4.5M to 5.5M 5.5M to 6.5M  The Test flows into Romsey and is joined by many small streams which are man-made carriers of the Test. The main stream is run off from Tadburn Lake to the east of the town.

–

’’

 The Blackwater rises to the east of Salisbury near the Wiltshire village of Redlynch and converges with the Test between Totton and Redbridge. On its way it is fed by many small streams and brooks, the larg- est of which is the Cadnam, which rises south of Cadnam Common and runs NE through Paultons, un- der Ower Bridge, to meet Blackwater at Busheylease Farm.

– –

– – –

’”

– – –

’”’ – –

’ ” ’’”’

– –

’”’ – –

– –

’”’

–

 Bartley Water appears to have its source just north of Lyndhurst (as does ) before it meets the Eling Channel about 1½ miles south of Bartley village.

– –

– –

’ ” ’ ’ ’ ’

’”’

 Tanner's Brook is a stream that rises near North Baddesley then flows south and flows into the River Test at Millbrook.

– –

‘’

’ ” – –

’

– –

– –

– –

–

– – Summary:

Over the three reports into the churchyard yews that grow along the River Test and its tributaries, we have visited 80 churchyards, recorded the positions of 182 yews and taken measurements of 62 trees. The histogram below groups the measured trees according to their girth. The pie chart shows the percentage of yews in each girth range, while the col- umn graph compares the statistics for each of the three areas visited.

Measured Yew Trees by Girth Range 1 5 1 4 1 3 1 2 s e 1 1 s

ee tr e 1 0 r f t f 9

oo

r r 8 ee

bb 7 1 4 mm uu 13 1 3 NN 6 5 4 3 5 5 2 4 3 1 2 1 1 0 1.5M t o 2.0M t o 2 .5M t o 3.0M to 3.5M to 4.0M to 4.5M to 5.0M to 5.5M t o 6.0M t o 6.5M t o 7.0M to 7.5M to 2.0M 2.5M 3.0M 3.5M 4 .0M 4 .5M 5.0M 5.5M 6.0M 6.5M 7.0M 7.5M 8 .0M

2 90 82 8 Girth / Percentage 4

80 7 4 6 -6.5M, 1.6% 7 6.5 - 7M, 1.6% 7.5 - 8M, 3.3% 70 5 - 5.5M, 4.9% 2 - 2.5M, 8.2% 60 4.5 - 5M, 6.6%

8 50 38 3 3 3 4 - 4.5M, 8.2% 2.5 - 3M, 21.3% 3 3

9 9

40 2 2

66 2 44 2 2 30 2 8 2 2 8 1 2 88 1 2 11 2 1 20 2 1 1 1

1 1 10

0 Upper Test Middle Test Lower Test 3.5 - 4M, 21.3% 3 - 3.5M, 23.0% Sites Visited Sites with yews Total yews Measured yews