Work to preserve dead 'Robin Hood' oak tree begins

Work to preserve one of the UK's most iconic oak trees has begun, three months after experts confirmed it had died.

The Major Oak is estimated to have lived in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire for up to 1,200 years, and has links to the legend of Robin Hood.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) - the conservation charity which manages the forest - said in June, after the tree's first spring with no leaves, the Major Oak had died.

The RSPB said the works were designed to help keep the remaining structure "stable and intact for as long as possible, protecting both the tree and the important wildlife habitat it continues to provide".

The charity said the Major Oak lost one of its branches in August during the heatwave, leading to tree experts being brought in.

Their advice was to reduce one of the upper branches, where it was found to be at risk of falling away and potentially damaging other parts of the tree.

Chloe Ryder, estate operations manager at Sherwood Forest, said: "The Major Oak is one of the UK's most loved trees, and while it's not easy to see it change, decisions are made with its long-term future in mind.

"Following expert advice, we've carried out work on one of the upper branches to reduce its weight so it has a better chance of remaining intact for as long as possible."

The RSPB said iron bracing added to the tree in the 1900s had made the preservation process more tricky, and a "slow, steady, cautious approach is needed".

Ryder added: "Although the Major Oak will continue to change in appearance over the coming years, it will remain at the heart of Sherwood Forest, providing valuable wildlife habitat and connecting people, nature and legend."

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