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6h ago

Major Oak in Sherwood Forest Declared Dead

Scientific surveys found the tree’s roots strangled by compacted soil, a condition that has prompted calls for stronger legal protection, propagation of offspring and plans to keep the standing trunk as wildlife habitat.

Image
Support beams began to be placed under the tree's branches in the early 20th century.
Sherwood Forest's Major Oak, shown here in June 2025, failed to produce any new leaves this spring.
FILE - A 1,200-year-old Major Oak tree, where Robin Hood allegedly used as a hide out, stands in Sherwood Forest near Nottinghamshire, England, on Oct. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson, File)

Overview

  • The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds announced Thursday that the Major Oak produced no new leaves this spring and is now confirmed dead.
  • Soil tests and root surveys by RSPB teams and SoilBioLab found the root zone severely compacted in places 'as solid as concrete' and described the root system as strangled and starved.
  • Experts say the tree’s decline resulted from a mix of long-term visitor footfall that compacted the soil, century-old structural interventions that altered natural ageing, and five recent hot, dry years that reduced water availability.
  • Conservation managers will leave the standing trunk and branches in place to provide habitat, continue propagation of acorns and cuttings already planted worldwide, and use the findings to guide protection of other veteran trees.
  • The death has intensified calls from the Woodland Trust and public figures for stronger legal protections for ancient and veteran trees and for routine soil and root monitoring at high‑visitor heritage sites.