Note19th June, 2026 / ecology
The Major Oak is dead
Last summer, in response to this press release about the Major Oak’s concerning condition (which we’d just seen first-hand) I felt the need to alert others, and posted on Bluesky and Mastodon:
The Major Oak means a lot to us in Notts, and it was upsetting to see such poor leaf coverage (due largely to extreme heat and drought) earlier this month. Huge gratitude to the people working hard to relieve its stress and protect what’s left of Sherwood Forest.
Unfortunately, and as feared, our tree has been declared dead after 1,000 years. Old age, yes—but too many hot, dry summers accelerated its demise, despite huge efforts by many good people. As a kid in the 70s and 80s, that direct link to Robin Hood was so exciting. I always loved the Major Oak.
It’s good to see notices in The Guardian and BBC News, but it’s a little sad to feel that too few people seem to care.