The Major Oak, "Robin Hood's Tree", Sherwood Forest.

 Above: A postcard of Robin Hood's Tree dated 1957, when the dubious wisdom of climbing on or even inside the tree was not yet discouraged.

Above: This area of Sherwood Forest was once owned and tended to by Thoresby Estate. The original irons which supported the branches were constructed in their blacksmith shop by a local man. This photo (c 1903) below shows the 4th Earl Manvers in his bowler hat with a team of men, chains at the ready.

The Major Oak was named after the archaeologist Major Hayman Rooke, who lived in Mansfield Woodhouse during the 1780's. It was his favourite tree. During the 19th Century the tree was commonly referred to as the Cockpen Tree because game birds in wicker baskets were placed inside the hollow interior before being made to fight in a cock pen below its branches. A modern theory as to why the tree is so large speculates that it started life as three separate oaks, which merged together as one. This might explain why the hollow nature of the tree is entirely different to similar oaks whose centres were burnt out by lightning. We shall never know.

Above: In the 1970's, fences and a more restricted access to the tree by tourists, became necessary for preservation purposes. In 1990's the tree was supported by unattractive wooden supports.

Above: The Major Oak. Winter 2006.

Above: The Major Oak, June 2020, looking beautiful during the pandemic "lockdown" as the RSVP, now owners / guardians of the area, let the grass grow.

Sadly, perhaps the most famous tree in England, had only a few short years left to live.