Sherwood Forest mourns ancient Major Oak tree linked to Robin Hood: ‘Heartbreaking for everyone’

The Major Oak is believed dead after its first spring with no leaves - (PA)

For more than 1,000 years, the world-famous Major Oak – said in folklore to have sheltered Robin Hood – has stood proudly at the heart of Sherwood Forest.

But the ancient tree, one of Europe’s oldest and largest, has now died after failing to sprout leaves following several dry and hot summers.