The BBC television programme Springwatch has been broadcasting from Crom Castle in County Fermanagh, drawing attention to some of Northern Ireland's oldest trees.

The programme featured a pair of conjoined Yew Trees on the estate. These are considered the oldest trees in Northern Ireland, with age estimates ranging from 400 to 1,000 years. They were already present when the castle was built in 1611 and may be significantly older.

The two trees together cover a circumference of 150 metres. Presenters explained that yew trees are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female specimens. The male tree produces pollen, while the female produces seeds.

In the context of the UK, these yews are relatively young. A yew in Perthshire, Scotland, is believed to be between 3,000 and 7,000 years old.

The broadcast also highlighted Crom's oak woodlands, described as the largest remaining body of oakwood in Northern Ireland. Oak trees can live up to 1,000 years and are considered ancient at around 400 years. As they age, they develop splits and provide habitat for many species. One study cited in the programme indicated that up to 2,300 species can depend on a single oak.