The 1,200-year-old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, believed to have sheltered the legendary Robin Hood, has died after failing to grow leaves this spring, conservationists said.
Experts believemillions of visitors compacted the soil around the tree over the years, making it difficult for water to reach its roots. Climate change, including heatwaves and drought, may also have contributed.
Protected since the 1970s, the famous oak will remain standing as a natural monument and continue to support the forest’s ecosystem, even in death.