Britain’s most famous oak tree has died. The organisation responsible for managing Sherwood Forest confirmed in June this year that, for the first time in its life, the Major Oak had failed to put out leaves and had been declared dead. This marks the end of the story of a tree estimated to be between 800 and as many as 1,200 years old.
The Major Oak and its legend
The Major Oak stands in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and is associated with the legend of Robin Hood. According to tradition, it was in its hollow that the famous outlaw is said to have hidden from the Sheriff of Nottingham, although historians emphasise that there are no sources to corroborate this story. The oak itself was considerably older than the earliest tales of Robin Hood. It may have sprouted between the 8th and 13th centuries, and thus witnessed the reigns of many English monarchs, the construction of Gothic cathedrals, civil wars, the Industrial Revolution and both World Wars. It owes its current name to Major Hayman Rooke, who described the tree in a book published in 1790, helping to spark interest in the site and the first wave of tourism in Sherwood.
The giant could not be saved
Major Oak was one of the largest oaks in Great Britain. Its trunk measured approximately 11 metres in circumference, its crown spanned nearly 28 metres, and the tree’s weight was estimated at around 23 tonnes. For over the last 100 years, strenuous efforts have been made to prolong its life. As early as 1908, the first supports were installed; later, the system of braces supporting the heavy branches was expanded; and from 1974, the area around the tree was fenced off to limit the negative impact of millions of visitors. Experts point out that several factors have contributed to the Major Oak’s decline. These include years of soil compaction caused by tourist traffic, ill-advised interventions by conservationists, heatwaves, droughts and the effects of climate change. In recent years, the tree’s condition has been monitored, the soil has been aerated, and in 2025 the root system was irrigated; however, the process of decline proved irreversible.
The Major Oak will remain in Sherwood Forest
Despite its death, the Major Oak will not be removed from Sherwood. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which manages the forest, has announced that the trunk and branches will be left where they are. In future, the tree will provide a habitat for fungi, lichens, insects, birds, bats and many other organisms. Experts emphasise that the experience gained from caring for this oak will help to better protect other ancient trees in the UK. Interestingly, its genetic material has also been preserved. Offspring of the Major Oak have been grown from acorns and cuttings, and are now growing in various parts of the country and beyond its borders.
A symbol of British nature and culture
The significance of the Major Oak extended far beyond its natural value. In 2002, the oak was voted the British public’s favourite tree in the Great British Tree Vote, and in 2014 it was named Tree of the Year in England. Every year, it attracted around 350,000 tourists and featured in books, films, television programmes and promotional material for the UK. Actress and keen nature lover Judi Dench publicly expressed her sadness at the death of the Major Oak. She has repeatedly emphasised that for over a thousand years it has inspired writers, artists and nature lovers. Its crown will never again be covered in leaves, but the oak itself will remain in Sherwood as a reminder of its great history and a warning of the threats facing Europe’s oldest trees.
Source: BBC
See also: United Kingdom|Greenery|Events|Interesting facts | whiteMAD on Instagram
