Groan!

 Just been been near one of the old buildings in Harlow (Moot House)... they are doing work there to "enhance the environment" by re-paving... They have protected a large sculpture of Chiron and 2 large Plane trees...

However I noticed a pile of sawn tree stumps, about 10"diameter, lovely dark reddish brown heart wood, creamy white sapwood.

Yes they'd cut down some Yew ... none of it left... bastards... enhancing the environment? My arse!

I had a chat to the foreman and told him what decent Yew is worth, maybe some will get used in future rather than sawn up.

Makes my blood boil. I've since E-mailed the council suggesting that if they are felling trees they should contact interested parties. My E-mail is being passed to the Parks and Landscape department. They also said it would be very unusual for healthy trees to have been felled... but of course a Yew tree doesn't need to be healthy to have good bow wood in it, slow growing stunted trees can produce very fine wood, and some will insist that it's actually preferable to faster gown wood.
Meanwhile I've been playing with the walnut cut last year. I've been working the worst bit which had tons of reflex and sideways bend. It stream bends well and I've roughed it out quick on the bandsaw. I overdid it and created a weak point (see pic), however, shortening that limb and will probably allow it to become a low weight bow of about 30# . The good thing is that it gives me an idea of the dimensions I'll need for a decent
primitive style 40 pounder. It feels very much like Hazel, but maybe not quite as stiff.