Inveresk Lodge Garden is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. The Lodge was built in 1673 and 1700 over the remains of a pre Reformation monastery and was known as a place with strong Jacobite loyalties. Between 1774 and 1911 it was the home of the Wedderburn family. During the Second World War the garden was utilised for growing vegetables to help the war effort.
In 1958 the house and gardens were gifted to the National Trust for Scotland who redesigned the garden so it could be maintained by a single gardener. On the upper terrace of the sloping gardens stands a female yew tree with a healthy and extensive canopy and a girth of 270 cm @ 100 cm high (SYTHI 2018).
What is unusual about this yew is that it has very pale bark which does not seem to be a problem as this yew looks in fine condition. It is also means that when the trunk becomes wet, the bark exhibits deep vibrant red colours.
A rough age estimate based on girth size suggests the yew could be around 300 years old and contemporary with the building of the house.