Legend has it that in the small village of Warblington, situated near the coordinates provided, there once lived a hermit. This was no ordinary hermit, for it was rumored he had the power to commune with nature, whispering to the trees and the birds and they, in turn, would whisper back. The focal point of this tale lies in a yew tree, located within the grounds of St Thomas à Becket Church, just off Church Lane, Warblington. This yew tree, considered ancient, plays a mysterious role in the hermit’s story. Locals of Warblington’s past have oral traditions detailing the strange relationship between the hermit and this tree. Something that made this hermit different was his prediction of his own death. As the tale goes, the hermit foretold that he would die on the day the ancient yew tree of Warblington died. When the tree suddenly became sick, losing leaves and withering, so too did the hermit. As the tree perished, so did the hermit. The villagers were left in awe of the connection that lay between the hermit and the yew tree. They say even today, you can still find remnants of the ancient yew in the church grounds. What’s more fascinating than the legend itself is that despite the ancient yew tree dying off, a new one has sprouted in its place, and stands strong today. Some locals believe it to be the spirit of the hermit himself, continuing to watch over Warblington. The legend of the Hermit of Warblington and the Redundant Yew is one filled with mystery, the inexplicable bond between man and nature, and the continuity of life, even in death. It serves to remind us that some forces of nature are beyond our understanding, and respect must be given to these ancient, inexplicable bonds.