The Major Oak, the 1,000-year-old tree in Sherwood Forest that legend says sheltered Robin Hood and his band of merry men as they fled the Sheriff of Nottingham, is no more. The world-famous oak, a living symbol of the outlaw folklore, has died.
For more than a millennium, the tree stood in the heart of Sherwood – but experts say it was too many tourists and not enough rain that finally killed it. The relentless trampling of visitors compacted the soil around its roots, while prolonged dry spells left it unable to recover.
“The 1,000-year-old Major Oak, famed for sheltering Robin Hood, has died.”
The tree was famed across the globe for its connection to the tales of Robin Hood, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. But its very popularity became its downfall, as the footfall gradually damaged its root system beyond repair.
The death of the Major Oak marks the end of an era for one of Britain's most recognisable natural landmarks, which had stood through centuries of history.