Major Oak in Sherwood Forest declared dead

A massive ancient oak tree in England, celebrated for its link to the legend of Robin Hood, has died after failing to produce leaves this spring. The Major Oak, estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,200 years old, stands in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Conservation experts announced its demise on Thursday, June 18, 2026, citing a combination of historical tourism, human intervention, and recent climate extremes as contributing factors.

The tree had been in decline for many years, but its failure to sprout foliage this year confirmed its death to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which manages the woodland. Scientists concluded that the root system had become strangled and starved. A primary cause was soil compaction from millions of visitors over two centuries, which made it difficult for water and nutrients to reach the roots. The area was fenced off in the 1970s, but the damage was long-lasting.

Well-intentioned structural supports installed over more than a century, including props, chains, and concrete fills, are also believed to have contributed to the tree's decline by placing its limbs under artificial strain and disrupting its natural aging process....