IT'S a rare giant that has certainly stood the test of time - and now it's about to become a Hampshire tourist attraction.

Clocking in at some 2,500 years old, the county's most ancient tree is going on show to the public for the first time.

When it was merely a tiny seed this most elderly of yews could have witnessed the first Iron Age settlers into Hampshire.

As it was beginning to sprout into a sapling, the Roman ships had docked in Southampton as part of their British invasion.

The tree is the centrepiece of the garden owned by a couple from Ower, near Romsey, who are throwing open the gates of their farmhouse for charity on Saturday, giving people the chance to see their famous elderly yew tree.

Edward Jewell, 58, was born at the Ower farm and proudly tells how the tree made it into the history books.

"We registered it on an ancient tree list and then some experts contacted us and did some tests. They said it was 2,500 years old.

"Most old yew trees are hidden in churchyards. Many on farm land were cut down because they were poisonous to the animals, so there aren't many in private gardens now."

There are about 400 trees on the ancient yew register - the oldest is thought to be a 3,500-year-old giant with a 35ft trunk girth in Llanfaredd, in Wales' Wye Valley.

Showing off his tree with his wife Jenny, 50, the former farmer explained how yew trees start to die in the middle once they reached a certain age, leaving a ring of growing wood.

This one, however, seems fully intact, apart from the occasional woodpecker haunt.

"When you think it was a mature tree when the Romans were around, it's quite amazing," he said.

"If only a tree could talk. With something like this you feel you're just a guardian for a tiny speck in its life."

He added that he rarely carried out any preservation work on the branches, preferring to let the great tree grow old gracefully.

Now the public has the opportunity to view the grandfather of the garden for the first time - and by guessing the tree's trunk diameter correctly, they could scoop a top prize.

"We'll have teas, unusual plants for sale, raffles and a 'guess the girth' competition," said Jenny. Visitors can also enjoy the rest of the acre and a half of the traditional country garden.

Admission costs £2 for adults and under-tens go free.

Money will go towards the Romsey Opportunities Group, which provides help for children with special needs.

The charity runs a playgroup twice a week for pre-school aged children with physical, mental or emotional problems, and also provides help, support and information for their families.