The Major Oak – no minor matter

I wasn’t surprised that the demise of the Major Oak in Nottinghamshire, England’s, Sherwood Forest made global headlines. It was, after all, billed as ‘the most famous tree in the world’ and undoubtedly one of Europe’s largest and oldest specimens.

I first made its acquaintance in the company of the late, great conservationist and champion of ancient woodlands, Norman Lewis. That was back in 2005 when the tree was already in its dotage. But as Norman explained in this recording for BBC Radio 4’s Open Country programme, it still had a few years left in it. And how right he proved to be – nearly 21 years to be precise. Enough time for another seven million visitors to admire its huge trunk and spreading branches and place themselves, for a moment, in the legend of Robin Hood.

RIP Norman and RIP the Major Oak.

If you’re into trees (and if not, why not?!) then you might also like to listen to Clever Trees – a series of five programmes from around the world about trees with clever traits. They include one that can produce its own rain (a neat trick in dry weather) and another that can tell you the time (excellent if you’ve left your wristwatch or smartphone behind).

Or maybe tree poetry is your thing. In which case you might like to read a few lines written about the elms that were a big feature on the skyline of my childhood and along with my biology teacher are responsible for my love of all things arboreal.

Please note that copyright of this programme remains with the BBC. I’m grateful for it allowing me to share this episode which was first broadcast on December 10th 2005.

And thank you also to Lucy Lapwing who graciously granted me permission to reproduce her stunning picture of a wintry Major Oak to illustrate this post.