1,200-year-old oak tree once hid 'Robin Hood' in its branches. Now it's time for farewell
The tree first came to attention 200 years ago when a British soldier wrote about it in a book
In the heart of England’s 450-hectare Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, Major Oak stood like a jewel, withstanding almost every difficulty — from fires to winds and snowstorms. For 1,200 years, the historic tree sheltered delicate creatures and even offered a hideout for the folk hero Robin Hood. But recently, it died, leaving both locals and thousands of people around the world heartbroken, according to the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)'s report on June 18, 2026.
Robin Hood’s hideout
Major Oak, reportedly, the “most famous tree in the world,” is thought to be over 1,000 years old. In fact, it’s a major attraction in Sherwood Forest. With a canopy spanning 92 feet and a circumference of 36 feet, it is also one of the biggest trees in Britain. According to folklore, the tree once sheltered the legendary outlaw Robin Hood, who is known for his generosity towards the poor. For years, people believed that Hood hid inside a hollow trunk in Major Oak, which, in fact, was caused by fungi, according to the BBC.
The tree first came to attention 200 years ago, when antiquarian and British soldier Major Hayman Rooke wrote about it in a 1790 book. Then came the railways, which prompted further footfall around the tree. Interestingly, during World War II, the nearby area was also used to dump ammunition. Over the years, plant doctors tried a variety of treatments to save the tree, but it struggled to absorb water, nutrients, and oxygen, and eventually died.
A slow decline
Chloe Ryder, RSPB Sherwood Forest Estates operations manager, said that the staff did everything they could to keep the tree alive. But when they tested it, they found the soil was under massive stress and pressure. The stress had compacted the sandy soils, leaving the root system weak and strangulated. Human activity and climate change further fuelled its suffering. Over the years, the tree became sensitive to temperature and climate changes. Since 2022, it failed to produce new leaves, a harbinger that its end was near.
According to the Purdue Landscape Report, “soil compaction” is one of the biggest silent tree killers and is often difficult to reverse because it directly affects the root system. The condition is triggered by “excessive traffic or activity on the soil around the root zone,” which seems like a valid reason for Major Oak’s death.
The fate of Earth's trees
A study (by T. W. Crowther and others) published in the journal Nature revealed that, since the beginning of human civilization, the global tree count has dropped by approximately 46%. In fact, the Red List of Oaks 2020 declared that nearly one-third (31%) of oak trees are threatened with extinction. As oaks die, the critters and birds on them also suffer, further disrupting the whole ecosystem.
Never-ending love for Major Oak
Meanwhile, mourning the death of the celebrity tree, nature minister Mary Creagh said in a statement, "The loss of this ancient tree is a stark reminder of the pressure that climate change is placing on our woodlands.” Notably, authorities have decided not to cut down the tree. Creatures such as birds, bats, lichens, mammals, insects, and fungi will continue to live on the tree, and visitors are welcome to visit the historic spot. Moreover, acorns and cuttings from the tree will be replanted as saplings and grown into trees.
More on Scoop Upworthy
Artist turns a 110-year-old tree into a free library for her neighborhood
HarperCollins is saving thousands of trees by a small change in their book design
Share on Facebook
