This Morning presenter Ben Shephard delivered some "sad news" on Thursday's programme. Returning to their posts on Thursday's ITV show, Ben and his co-host Cat Deeley presided over another action-packed edition. During the broadcast, the pair spoke with the show's resident gardening expert, David.
It was at this point that the passing of the 1,200-year-old oak tree was raised. Ben said to David via video link: "Just before you go, because there has been some sad news here today, which is the ancient oak tree that has been linked to the Robin Hood legend, it has been featured in all sorts of films, has sadly died. It's really shocking to see it looking how it is now!"
The Major Oak's Legacy
Situated in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, the ancient oak was regarded as the oldest and largest tree in Europe. Having endured several years of exceptionally hot and dry summers, the tree failed to produce leaves this spring, marking the end of its life, reports the Mirror. According to local legend, the tree once served as a hideout for Robin Hood, the mythical outlaw renowned for stealing from the rich to give to the poor. It is believed he sought refuge beneath its branches while evading the Sheriff of Nottingham.
In 2010, snowfall settling on the trunk even produced a striking image that many felt resembled Friar Tuck. For over two centuries, the Major Oak has drawn visitors from far and wide, eager to witness the iconic tree and its ties to the Robin Hood legend. However, the relentless flow of visitors has compressed the soil around it over the years, preventing rainwater from penetrating to the tree's roots and hastening its deterioration.
Conservation Efforts and Confirmation
While earlier claims that the Major Oak had perished turned out to be false, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) confirmed on Thursday that the ancient tree has not recovered, despite conservation measures introduced in 2023 aimed at saving it. The renowned oak acquired its title after appearing in Major Hayman Rooke's 1790 publication about oak trees, generating considerable attention and attracting people to Sherwood Forest.
While specialists cannot identify one definitive reason for the tree's demise, multiple factors are thought to have played a role. Intense footfall from countless visitors throughout the decades compressed the earth beneath, while interventions to prop up its massive limbs with cables and supports may have also impacted its wellbeing. Tree surgeons inspecting the oak found that its root network had become critically starved of both room and nourishment, rendering it fragile and incapable of enduring.
Robert Brackley, an outdoor educator who has enthusiastically presented the Major Oak to thousands, told The Guardian: "The stories it has given us are the legacy. It's the most famous tree in the world." Meanwhile, Hollie Drake of the RSPB said in a statement: "The tree's failure to produce leaves this year is heartbreaking for everyone."
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
