'Robin Hood's Oak' dies after 1,000 years; what will happen to it

The Major Oak, an iconic symbol of England's Sherwood Forest and estimated to be over 1,000 years old, has died. The ancient tree, famous for its association with the legend of Robin Hood, failed to produce buds or leaves this spring, signaling the end of its long life, according to The Guardian.

For centuries, the Major Oak was believed to have provided shelter to Robin Hood and his band of outlaws as they evaded the Sheriff of Nottingham. With a trunk circumference of approximately 11 meters and a crown spread of nearly 28 meters, it stood as one of Europe's largest and oldest oak trees.

Specialists attribute the tree's decline to a combination of factors accumulated over two centuries. These include soil compaction from the high volume of visitors, alterations in groundwater levels, and the effects of climate change, particularly the increasingly hot and dry summers in recent years. Arborist Reg Harris noted that the lack of rainfall and record temperatures significantly contributed to its degradation, with the tree showing minimal leaf growth in 2025 and none this year.

Despite its death, the Major Oak will not be removed. Experts state that dead wood continues to provide a habitat for numerous insect species, fungi, and other organisms dependent on old trees. Conservation organizations are using the tree's demise to highlight the vulnerability of ancient woodlands. The Woodland Trust points out that such trees lack special legal protection in the UK, and many ecologically and historically significant trees are lost annually.

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The lack of rainfall in recent years and record temperatures have significantly contributed to its degradation.