The Major Oak, which stood in the U.K.’s Sherwood Forest for more than 1,200 years, has died. Many believe it to be the tree in whose hollow, according to legend, Robin Hood and his companions once hid.
This spring, for the first time in its history, the tree failed to produce leaves. Following this, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which oversees Sherwood Forest, officially confirmed the death of the legendary oak.
Over the years, the Major Oak became a true symbol of the forest. Thousands of tourists visited it each year, while writers, artists and filmmakers drew inspiration from it.
Perhaps most surprisingly, experts say it was not the tree’s age that caused its death. Instead, they believe several factors contributed to its decline, including decades of mass tourism that compacted the soil around its roots, climate change bringing prolonged droughts and heat waves, and some preservation efforts that, over time, began to do more harm than good.
In recent years, specialists have done almost everything possible to save the Major Oak. Visitor access was restricted, its heavy branches were reinforced with special supports, the surrounding soil was restored, and its roots were watered during periods of extreme heat. Despite these efforts, the tree died.
However, the Major Oak will not disappear immediately. Scientists predict that it will remain standing in Sherwood Forest for many years to come. Gradually, it will become part of the local ecosystem, providing a habitat for birds, insects, fungi and other forest inhabitants.
To preserve the memory of this legendary tree, its saplings have already been planted across the U.K. and beyond.
