The aged giant oak tree of Sherwood Forest dates from the times of Robin Hood and now stands protected and supported due to its sheer weight. Its earliest recorded name was the Cockpen Tree in the mid 1800’s, as the sport of fighting once took place there. In 1790, Major Hayman Rooke, a noted archaeologist, included the tree in his popular book about the ancient oaks of Sherwood. Since then, The Major Oak has become its new name. Due to its national importance, conservation measures to the tree have been carried out continually since 1908. Today, this world famous oak, at least 800 years old, weighs an estimated 23 tons, its trunk circumference is 33 feet (10m) and its branches spread to over 92 feet (28m).

圖片編號： 70449874
拍攝者： Debsta75