‘Most famous tree in the world’: Sherwood Forest’s 1,000-year-old Major oak dies
Rob Brackley, an outdoor education tutor dressed as Robin Hood, at the Major oak tree in Sherwood Forest, which this year has not come into leaf. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The GuardianView image in fullscreenRob Brackley, an outdoor education tutor dressed as Robin Hood, at the Major oak tree in Sherwood Forest, which this year has not come into leaf. Although the oak would not have been hollow in Robin Hood’s day, it was said to have provided a sanctuary for the outlaw and his gang when fleeing the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham.View image in fullscreenMajor oak, c 1900.
- ▪Rob Brackley, an outdoor education tutor dressed as Robin Hood, at the Major oak tree in Sherwood Forest, which this year has not come into leaf.
- ▪Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The GuardianView image in fullscreenRob Brackley, an outdoor education tutor dressed as Robin Hood, at the Major oak tree in Sherwood Forest, which this year has not come into leaf.
- ▪Although the oak would not have been hollow in Robin Hood’s day, it was said to have provided a sanctuary for the outlaw and his gang when fleeing the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham.View image in fullscreenMajor oak, c 1900.
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| Original publisher | World news | The Guardian |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/18/most-famous-tree-world-sherwood-forest-ancient-major-oak-dies |
| Publication time | Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:01:46 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-17T23:33:30.571Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-17T23:37:54.164Z |
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| Summary source text | contentText |
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| Publisher visit | Yes — open original |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Rob Brackley, an outdoor education tutor dressed as Robin Hood, at the Major oak tree in Sherwood Forest, which this year has not come into leaf. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The GuardianView image in fullscreenRob Brackley, an outdoor education tutor dressed as Robin Hood, at the Major oak tree in Sherwood Forest, which this year has not come into leaf. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The GuardianTrees and forests‘Most famous tree in the world’: Sherwood Forest’s 1,000-year-old Major oak diesNottinghamshire tree, one of Europe’s oldest and largest, fails to produce leaves after being stressed by series of hot, dry summersPatrick BarkhamWed 17 Jun 2026 19.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe Major oak, one of Europe’s oldest, largest and most celebrated ancient trees, has died.The huge…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at World news | The Guardian.
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