Sherwood Forest visitors have had this to say following the sad death of world-famous Major Oak
Visitors have been flocking to Sherwood Forest today to pay their respects to the iconic Major Oak tree.
It follows the sad news that the world famous Nottinghamshire tourist attraction has been declared officially dead after a first spring with no leaves.
The gigantic tree, which is estimated to be up to 1,200 years old, has been in decline for some time despite the tireless efforts by the RSPB and leading tree and soil health experts to prolong its life.
Peter Mitchener, who has travelled further than most having come up from his home in Hampshire, couldn’t help being impressed by what he saw.
“I have never been here but I had to come after hearing the news about the Major Oak,” he said. “The oak tree is something we grew up with and the tales of Robin Hood and when you see it, it is quite beautiful.
“I was brought up in the New Forest, which has plenty of old trees, but there’s nothing like this. It is spectacular.”
Wife Marie was also left struck by the Major Oak’s magnificence, adding: “It’s a little bit like if you were down south you’d want to go see Stonehenge, so we are here. We saw the news and felt we should come and visit.
“It is gnarled, it has got bags of history - and you can tell. If only it could tell a few tales, it would be fascinating. It is worth celebrating.”
Sheffield-based visitor David was left reflecting on his first ever visit to the Major Oak over 50 years ago.
“I am amazed how much less there is now than there used to be,” he said. “I haven’t been back for 50 years and it brings back memories. It is starting to look its age, but it is nice that it is still here.”
For Mike, who has travelled to the area from Norfolk, the sight of the Major Oak also brought back some special childhood memories.
“I came here when I was 9 or 10 years old and went inside it, it was great,” he said. “We were on our way to Derbyshire and we stopped off here and got inside it. It is quite a specimen. It is sad news, but the legacy stays.”
Experts say it is impossible to determine one exact cause of the oak’s demise, but a complex combination of issues including more than a hundred years of well-intentioned structural intervention and huge amounts of human activity around the tree for more than 200 years are thought to be major contributors.
The iconic tree has watched over the forest for a millennium, and will continue to stand at Sherwood Forest to support wildlife and connect people to the legendary folklore of Robin Hood.