Roslin Glen Country Park is managed by the Midlothian Ranger Service though areas are the responsibility of Rosslyn Chapel Trust. It is the largest surviving stretch of ancient woodland in Midlothian, meaning it contains trees more than 400 years old.
In 1303 a battle was fought here between Scottish and English forces, which numbered 8,000 and 30,000 respectively, but despite being outnumbered the Scottish forces were victorious. Within a few decades of the battle being fought, Roslin Glen saw the construction of what are now the ruins of Roslin Castle.
This steep sided valley has attracted and inspired many notable visitors including the JMW Turner, Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron and William and Dorothy Wordsworth. Incidentally the burial plot chosen by William Wordsworth for his family lies in Grasmere churchyard in Cumbria, England and is overlooked by a yew. He is also said to have planted 8 yews in the churchyard, though these may have been Irish yew.
There are yews of various sizes and ages dotted throughout the glen, including the Roslin Castle yew and some are plantings and others the result of natural seeding. In the area known as Rosebank to the east of Rosslyn Chapel are the biggest yews, a line which grow along the boundary of an old wall. These include a curious group of five close growing trunks with roots snaking along the stone work. In some places the root crowns of separate trunks have merged.
Near to this group is a marvellous example of a yew with a flowing, fluted trunk and its girth measured 460 cm at 100 cm high. This is 9 cm larger than the Roslin Castle yew which could be 700-800 years old and suggests these ancient yews in Roslin Glen could be of similar age.