Major Oak, ancient Robin Hood tree, dies
The Major Oak has stood at the heart of Sherwood Forest for over a thousand years. This spring, it failed to come into leaf and experts now believe it has died. But its story isn’t over. Its ancient trunk & branches will continue to support life for years to come: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
rru.bsky.social7Elaborate illustration of the role of ancient oaks in nature available from @ark-rewildingnl.bsky.social winkel.ark.eu/nl/illustrat...
Tree Bird6Removing the bits of concrete + unnecessary supports etc might have saved it? Sadly, it's popularity has affected it's lifespan. I'm afraid I don't submit records of ancients I find anymore as I don't want them to get mobbed. Not sure the conservation benefits of recording them outweigh the risks.
Harebell5Sad in one way but just a new and different chapter. The birds, insects and fungi etc will keep loving it.
𝓪 𝓶𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝓸𝓽𝓱 🦋4Please don't gloss over HOW it died. After two years of hysteria over a sycamore being chopped down, it would be great if we could have half that reaction to a far more serious issue
Debbie Alston4Sad news indeed. I had the absolute privilege in leading a guided walk for NCC on ancient trees finishing under this iconic tree. Unforgettable experience.
Dan Martin2The news this morning blamed compaction. It may be too late but could this not have been improved?
The Major Oak has died. The huge tree which has grown in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, for at least 1,000 years, failed to produce any leaves this year, after becoming stressed by a series of hot, dry summers. #majoroak #climatecrisis 😢🌳 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Hilary11This is sad news. I took this photograph of the Major Oak back in 2018, it is amazing to think of all the history this oak has lived through.
simongarlick5well, after being stressed by a bunch of damaging attempts to "help" it by people who didn't know what they were doing
Frasinho73043If ever we needed a modern day Robin Hood to go after all the greedy politicians who seem quite happy to continue to pollute the planet in pursuit of making a few quid. But even then one fears it’s all probably too late anyway,
mjjseagull.bsky.social3It’s done well. Usual rule of thumb, an oak tree takes 200 years to grow, 200 years to mature, and 200 years to decay.
Never posted a RIP for a tree before, but; farewell to The Major Oak. I only ever saw it once, and on a VERY misty, autumnal day, when the trees were more or less bare. Walking through Sherwood and THAT monster suddenly coming out of the fog was memorable! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hammer6All things alive must die. It’s the ancient law of the universe. Trees are no different. Hopefully, the big Oak made tons and tons of acorns that will carry on it’s legacy. Sleep now giant. Rest assured, you are always remembered.
Savage Shark going to AC26🦈5hard to believe that tree is over 1000 years old. o7 so sad to see it being taken down. It's as much of a historic landmark.
Farniro21,000 ain't bad for an age! Honestly a shame but it happens. We need to make sure we protect more that grow in our lifetime.
Sad news but what an amazing life. The Major Oak was a similar age to the oak trees used to build the Hall.
Rebecca Lambert (She/Her) ♾️🐭🍉11It is indeed sad news, but I’m taking immense comfort from knowing that saplings from the Major Oak are thriving ❤️
Wade Jones4I live a few miles away from this tree. This is horrible news.
MargaretR3I have posted and commented on this elsewhere but I have to say I am gutted ☹️ When I was small a visit to Sherwood was an adventure. Looking for Little John, Friar Tuck & Maid Marion. Then stepping inside Robin Hood’s actual tree! And imagining ❤️ I went inside a few times, no protection for it then.
Mr FH Bear3😕 You don’t need any timber for roof repairs…?! 🫣😬
monkeybutter.bsky.social2That's so sad, I remember going to see it when I was very young with my parents. At that point we weren't allowed near it (all of us, it wasn't personal) and it was just so beautiful to see.
Hollywood lost the mandate of heaven when they forget how to make a good Robin Hood movie.
THAAD3Yeah, now that Superman has been rescued from the grimdark machine, maybe we can do Robin Hood next.
Anton ☾2She posted this while next to me in bed and showed me on her screen because she thought this was a good post (it is)
Clint SacElroy 🔞2They never believed in Robin Hood Men In Tights and it really shows
As Blusky's TTRPG scenes resident Nottinghamshire resident, It is with sadness when I say, the Major Oak, the tree made famous by the story of Robin Hood, has died. Me and my family would take walks around Sherwood Forest pretty regularly and the tree itself was such a link to our past.
Fabian Blake (he/him)5Nooooo!!!! I have such happy memories!😭 We went there as kids, then I went there often when I lived in Ashbourne, and then we took our kids to the festival there too, I assumed my grandkids would be sitting under it eventually, I hope at least it will remain in the landscape a while yet?
panoptikontraband3Such a gorgeous tree :/ visited a couple of years ago, but happy that it will keep being a home for woodland creatures for decades to come.
I remember visiting the Major Oak when I was at school. Though this tree was far older and more significant than the Sycamore Gap Tree, I suspect its death will be greeted with a shrug because it doesn’t produce the same easy moral outrage. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Alan Allport10We are all implicated in the slow murder of the Major Oak and who wants to think about that?
Ian Kikuchi4Was interested to read that propping up the oak's limbs hastened its demise. I didn't know that old trees droop their limbs to save energy.
Jonathan Boff2The best thing about the Major Oak was always that it wasn’t it’s predecessor, the Thatcher Oak