Major Oak, Sherwood Forest

3D Model

The Mayor Oak is located within Sherwood Forest & believed to be 800 - 1,100 years old. With a girth of 10.76m, this tree appears to have grown in a clearing for most of its long life which enabled it to achieve a very large size. Named after soldier and antiquarian Major Hayman Rooke who in 1790 wrote a book describing this and other oak trees in the area. The book catapulted the Major Oak into fame making it a Victorian tourist attraction with even an ice-cream stand established at its base for some time. This oak is an intensely managed ancient tree with multiple branch props and fibreglass applied at several holes as protection against rot, a management tool, thankfully, no longer in use.

The SCATTER project was funded by the Woodland Trust & carried out by researchers from UCL with logistical support & ancient oak expertise from The Ancient Tree Forum. If visiting ancient trees, please be respectful to these living legends and their custodians.