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‘Most famous tree in the world’: Sherwood Forest’s 1,000-year-old Major oak dies
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‘Most famous tree in the world’: Sherwood Forest’s 1,000-year-old Major oak dies

The Guardian · Jun 17, 2026, 11:01 PM

Key takeaways

  • 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.
  • Prefer the Guardian on GoogleThe Major oak, one of Europe’s oldest, largest and most celebrated ancient trees, has died.
  • The huge tree, which has grown in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, for at least 1,000 years, failed to produce any leaves this year, after becoming stressed by a series of hot, dry summers.

Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.

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 Guardian View image in fullscreen 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 Guardian Trees and forests‘Most famous tree in the world’: Sherwood Forest’s 1,000-year-old Major oak dies Nottinghamshire tree, one of Europe’s oldest and largest, fails to produce leaves after being stressed by series of hot, dry summers

Prefer the Guardian on GoogleThe Major oak, one of Europe’s oldest, largest and most celebrated ancient trees, has died.

The huge tree, which has grown in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, for at least 1,000 years, failed to produce any leaves this year, after becoming stressed by a series of hot, dry summers.

Article preview — originally published by The Guardian. Full story at the source.
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