THE yew trees and hedges at the University of York's Heslington Hall are receiving their first trim for two years this month.

The operation will take three men about a month to complete, using a hydraulic platform for the highest sections, and is part of a long tradition stretching back centuries.

The yews are thought to be nearly 300 years old and were planted in the early 18th century by James Yarbrough, owner of the hall at the time.

Gordon Eastham, university grounds manager, said: "If anybody knows exactly when they were planted, we'd be delighted to hear from them." He said he had seen a photograph of the yews dating from 1933, which showed that at that time they were cut into cylindrical and beehive shapes.

Then during the Second World War they grew out of shape when the hall was used in the war effort.

"It wasn't until the 1960s when the university took the hall over that they were brought back under maintenance, and they were kept in the odd shapes they're in now," he said.

Updated: 09:30 Saturday, September 07, 2002