The Major Oak, a photo from Nottinghamshire, England

Photographer's Note

The Major Oak.
Sherwood Forest once again.

The Major Oak known throughout the world as the secret hiding place of Nottinghamshire's famous outlaw hero Robin Hood.

The Major Oak is the biggest oak tree in Britain and is thought to be between 800 and 1,000 years old.

It weighs an estimated 23 tonnes, has a girth of 10 metres (33 ft) and boasts an impressive canopy that reaches a whopping 28 metres (92 ft).
It is not the tallest oak tree.

Legend has it that the Major Oak not only provided Robin Hood with shelter, it was also the place where he and his Merry Men hid and camped on their adventures!
A good story, but how true?

To preserve the ancient tree you can see lots of support for the very heavy boughs.

When we first visited the Major Oak, a few decades ago, there was no fencing around it, and you could actually clamber inside it.
But because of its popularity people are now not able to get very close, as the many footsteps was compacting the soil around, so preventing precious rainwater to seep through to the roots.

Two more slightly different angles in the workshop.

Thanks for you visit.

Fis2, PaulVDV, ikeharel, pajaran, ChrisJ, jhm, COSTANTINO, Royaldevon, ktanska, adramad has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (222811) 2021-04-20 12:18

Ciao Jean, great view of fantastic oak, splendid light, wonderful natural colors and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

holmertz (103564) 2021-04-20 12:26

Hello Jean,
The Sheriff of Nottingham and his men would have had to be blind not to discover people "hiding" in this tree. That is conformed from whatever angle we see it. But it's a good story and a beautiful tree worth to be treated with great respect. Interesting photographs from a beautiful day.
Best regards,
Gert

Tue (93340) 2021-04-20 12:53

Hello Jean,
Wow, what a great and majestic oak, which is incredibly old. Great shot, which shows its shapes so well in a fine and clear sunlight.
Lars

lousat (139926) 2021-04-20 13:14

Hi Jean,surely it was a good thing to enclose the land around the big oak in order to preserve the land around it. A legend, or truth, in any case a fundamental piece from Sherwood's research, these tales are well known even in Italy. Three beautiful photos showing the tree in great shape, long live the great oak! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Fis2 (171849) 2021-04-20 13:37

Witaj Jean!
A very nice forest.
Wonderful oak, view is impressive.
Good framing, colors and sharpness.
Very impressive picture.
Good night.
Krzysztof

PaulVDV (63444) 2021-04-20 13:54

Hello Jean,
A good small series of this mighty oak.
I can imagine that this oak can take on a somewhat terrifying shape in the twilight.
Beautiful with the contrast between the sunlit parts and others in the shade.
Best regards, Paul

jemaflor (148146) 2021-04-20 23:20

Hi Jean,
Nice oldtree and trunk, interesting and photogenic, impressive with these branches and these supports, well framed, tfs.

ChrisJ (172378) 2021-04-21 0:18

Hello Jean,

Robin Hood and his bunch of Merry Me would have to hide inside hollow oak trees, as the lack of leaves doesn't offer much concealment. The props remind me of Salvador Dali paintings. Tfs!

jhm (211738) 2021-04-21 9:53

Hello Jean,

What a beautiful Oak tree, real a extraordinarily exemplar.
Excellent sharp and clear photographed with forest in background.
Good picture, with much details.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

ifege (49325) 2021-04-21 22:12

HI Jean
Definitely an ancient oak that looks like it could have held a tree house as in some versions of Robin Hood. Superb photo in the large view.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (117700) 2021-04-21 23:13

hello dear Jean and have a nice day
if this tree could speak how many
interesting notes could offer
to all of us...
well done
regards
costantino

Royaldevon (86392) 2021-04-22 4:16

Hello Jean,

If only trees could talk!
What a tale this would have to tell!

You have shown us fine details of the immense size and structural problems for this old tree.
Its lower parts remind me of the legs of an elephant, same structure and colours!
The light is lovely, with fine shadows.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

ktanska (45046) 2021-04-22 10:52

Hi Jean,
It is huge, and all lumpy branches and hollow trunk make the age even more obvious. And it is not the first tree to turn green in spring. Fascinating view that makes me think how short our own life is.
Kari

ikeharel (114499) 2021-04-23 23:07

Good morning Jean,
The big old oak is well supported and I can see an imaginary elephant figure of its lower trunk.
Besides my imagination, I am surely imressed by its size and thick branches.
Interesting note written about.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

mkamionka (75049) 2021-04-23 23:45

Hi Jean,
I guess since the Robin Hood's friends were frequently climbing it, now the branches are tired and require support.
Such old trees are always very interestsing, it is like a work by an artist and no two trees are the same.
Great capture,
M

adramad (73414) 2021-04-30 11:55

Hi Jean.
Wow ....... what a wonder of nature, this gigantic oak is a beauty with that enormous size and its twisted branches, normal that they have to put support on those huge branches that must weigh a lot, all to protect a jewel of the nature.
In Madrid in the Retiro park, we have a 400-year-old specimen and it is the oldest, it is an Ahuehuete originally from Mexico where they can live from 2000 to 6000 years, it is also very protected.
Sharpness, lighting, color and magnificent composition; they are managed to perfection.
I like very much. Have a nice day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

jmdias (116373) 2021-06-09 12:49

jean

a marvelous tree, remind the big ones I saw in my trips. I remember a giant arauc醨ia tree that was protected by fences, but there was a big hole in the fence and people visited it anyway. these structures around the tree aren't nice to see, but are useful to preserve it.
TFS this magnificent tree.

take care

jorge