Major Oak

The tree itself is reported to be from 800-1000 years old. It has an estimated weight of 23 tons and a girth of 33 feet. At its largest point the canopy of the Oak measures 93 feet around, and because of its huge branches, it needs a little help holding them up in the form of supporting logs.

Because of the sheer mass of the tree, there are no trees growing anywhere around it. Several theories surrounding the origin of the tree exist. One of them is that the tree started out as two or more individual trees that somehow "grew together".

A good picture of the Major Oak can be found at http://www.nottinghamshiretourism.co.uk/images/popup/forest/majoroak.jpg

One such might already be planted in Arizona, sent to the State's Renaissance Festival in 1999, and another was planned to be planted outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

A Council spokesman said: "We eventually hope to send one of these trees to as many cities in the world as possible. We see them as our "Ambassadors" abroad and hope they will keep the name of Robin Hood alive for many generations to come" www.robinhood.ltd.uk/robinhood/newsflash.html

The tree is still a major tourist attraction, one which is becoming harder to maintain. Recent storms (2002) have raised concerns about the future of the tree and local conservation and tourist bodies are looking at ways of providing a protective shield for this landmark tree.