The Major Oak
N 53° 12.261 W 001° 04.348
30U E 628739 N 5896737
The Major Oak of Sherwood Forest, England's most famous tree.
Waymark Code: WMCJBK
Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/12/2011
Views: 20
The Major Oak is a huge oak tree near the village of Edwinstowe in the heart of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. According to local folklore, it was Robin Hood's shelter where he and his merry men slept. It weighs an estimated 23 tons, has a girth of 33 feet (10 metres), and is about 800–1000 years old. In June 2002, the Tree Council designated the Major Oak one of fifty Great British Trees in recognition of its place in the national heritage.
The Major Oak is an English or pedunculate oak (Quercus robur). The oak's great hollow interior is caused by fungi, the most invasive of which is called the "poor man's Beefsteak" (Fistulina hepatica) whose fruiting bodies are sometimes seen growing on the bark of the tree during the Autumn.
The tree did not become well known until about 200 years ago when in 1790 the tree was described by a Major Hayman Rooke FSA, who was a local historian from the Mansfield area. In the same year, he published a book entitled "Remarkable Oaks in the park of Welbeck in the county of Nottingham", it was soon after this that the tree was named after him. Its name means "The Major's Oak" and not the largest oak.
In Victorian times, the Major Oak became a popular visiting place, although it was always well known by local people. People visited the tree, coming to Edwinstowe by train and then by carriage to see the tree.
This tree still continues to draw the crowds with over 600,000 people from all over the world coming to visit this venerable giant each year.
Since the Victorian era its massive limbs have been partially supported by an elaborate system of scaffolding.
The Major Oak is located a 10-15 minute walk through the woods from Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre near the village of Edwinstowe.
There is a surfaced path to the Major Oak and it is signed from the Visitor Centre.
There is a car park (parking charge at peak times) near the Visitor Centre.